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THE 



HISTORY OF THE NAVY 



UNITED STATES 



OF 



AMERICA: 



ABRIDGED IN ONE VOLUME, 



J. FENIMORE COOPER. 



Philadelphia: 

THOMAS, COWPERTHWAIT &, CO. 

1841. 



Entered, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by 
J. FENIMORE COOPER, 

in the office of the clerk of the district court of the United States in and 
for the northern district of New York. 



• 



STEREOTYPED BY J. FAGAN. 
PRINTED BY KAY AND BROTHER. 



*5 



PREFACE, 
o 

This work has been reduced in size, and conse- 
quently in cost, by omitting that portion of the 
original matter which it is thought will have the 
least interest with- the general reader. The ori- 
ginal descriptions of the battles, attacks, chases, 
&c, have been retained, nearly verbatim, and the 
narrative is unbroken. Wherever there has been 
any alteration, in this respect, it has been made with 
a view to improvement. The opportunity has been 
taken, also, to introduce a little new matter, and 
to correct a few errors. Some faults of style, and 
many errors of the press, have been corrected. 
In a word, in the author's opinion, this reduced 
work has all the value or interest which may belong 
to the original, the documents and more elaborate 
reasoning excepted. As a mere narrative, he 
thinks the abridgment will be found to have the 
most attraction. 

A powerful and combined attempt has been 
made to injure both the book and the writer, in 
connexion with his account of the Battle of Lake 
Erie. . As to the final decision of the world on 
this subject, the author feels no concern ; but he 
will take this occasion to say, that the man who 

(3) 



IV PREFACE. 

makes up his mind on such a subject, without look- 
ing for evidence, is guilty equally of weakness and 
injustice ; and as for those who do inquire into the 
testimony, who collate and consider it, as he has 
himself done, the author has no apprehensions con- 
cerning their decision. His assailants are fast 
refuting themselves ; for, not satisfied with con- 
tradicting each other, as has already been done in 
fifty instances, they are contradicting their own 
witnesses, and their own statements. The mo- 
ment is near when a full review of the whole mat- 
ter will be laid before the public, in which these 
facts will be made apparent to any reader who 
will take the trouble to peruse it. It is not diffi- 
cult to deceive the world for a time; and this is 
done so much the more easily, when passion, pre- 
judice, and clamour conspire to aid the effort ; but 
public opinion never fails to take ample vengeance 
for the mistakes into which it has fallen even by its 
own negligence and compliance. The victims are 
those who have been so ignorant of the power of 
truth as to act under the delusion of hoping to 
smother it, in an age like this, and on a question 
that can excite party feeling only for a day. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Settlement of country — expedition of Captain Argal — first 
vessels of New England — first engagement on the water — 
first decked vessel — guarda-costas — first sea-fight — Sir William 
Phipps's expedition — first two-decked ship, built in Amer- 
ica Page 13 

CHAPTER II. 

Buccaneers— Captain Kidd — taking of Port Royal — expedition 
against the Canadas — slave-trade — whale-fisheries — capture of 
Louisbourg 20 

CHAPTER III. 

Shipping of different ports, 1750 — old French war — destroying 
the tea — burning of the Gaspe — battle of Lexington, &c— 
commencement of revolution 29 

CHAPTER IV. 

Privateers — first naval action of the revolution — Lee, Captain 
Manly — laws of Congress — first American vessels of war — 
officers of navy first appointed — expedition of Commodore 
Hopkins — battle with the Glasgow — Edward taken by the 
Lexington 36 

CHAPTER V. 

Paul Jones — his first cruise as a commander — Doria, Captain 
Biddle — Defence, Captain Harding, takes British transports — 
cruise of the Providence and Alfred — cruise of Reprisal, in 
Europe — Lexington, do. — Captain Wicke's cruises — Lexing- 
ton taken — loss of Reprisal — Captain Gustavus Conyngham's 
cruises 48 

1* (5) 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Captain Mugford — Sachem 10 — Andrea Doria 14 — Captain Ro- 
binson takes the Racehorse, Lieutenant Jones — galleys in the 
Delaware — action in the Hudson — Ranger's action in the 
West-Indies — battle on Lake Champlain — General Arnold. . . 59 

CHAPTER VII. 

Cruise and blowing up of Randolph 32 — loss of Cabot 14 — ac- 
tion of Trumbull 28, Captain Saltonstall — capture of Fox 28 — 
capture of Hancock 32, Captain Manly — vessels destroyed in 
the Delaware, by the English — Augusta 64, blown up — cruise 
of Raleigh 32, Captain Thompson, and her action with the 
Druid 20 64 

CHAPTER VIII. 

French alliance — new frigates built — Providence 12, Captain 
Rathburne, seizes New Providence — capture of the Alfred 24 
— do. of Virginia 28, Captain Nicholson — frigates burned by 
the enemy in the Delaware — cruise of the Ranger 16, Paul 
Jones — takes the Drake 16 — Major Talbot cuts out the Pigot 
8 — loss of Raleigh 32, Captain Barry 72 

CHAPTER IX. 

Alliance sails for France — mutiny — cruise of Warren 32, Queen 
of France 24, and Ranger 16 — Paul Jones's celebrated cruise 
round Scotland — his battle with the Serapis 81 

CHAPTER X. 

Serapis and her consorts arrive in Holland — Paul Jones quits 
Holland in the Alliance — Alliance sails for America — Com- 
modore Jones's return in the Ariel 20 — cruise of Deane 32, 
and Boston 24 — Providence captures the Diligent — Massachu- 
setts' cruiser, Hazard, captures Active 14 — unfortunate expe- 
dition to the Penobscot 104 

CHAPTER XL 

Vessels taken at Charleston, S. C. — battle of the Trumbull and 
Watt — cruises of the Alliance 32, Captain Barry — captures 
the Atalanta and Trepassy — capture of Confederacy 32 — do. 



CONTENTS. Vll 

of Trumbull 28 — Congress privateer takes the Savage 16 — 
cruise of the Alliance in the West-Indies — escape of the 
Hague 32, Captain Manly 108 

CHAPTER XII. 

Battle of the Hyder Ally, Captain Barney, and Monk, Captain 
Rogers — state cruisers — South Carolina — her capture — end of 
war of revolution 117 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Commencement of present navy — quasi war with France 123 

CHAPTER XIV. 

First vessel at sea — le Croyable taken — escape of the Retaliation, 
Lieutenant Bainbridge 126 

CHAPTER XV. 

Vessels of war at sea in 1799 — Constellation 38, captures l'ln- 
surgente 36 — vessels at sea in 1800 — action between Constel- 
lation and la Vengeance — Lieutenant Hull cuts out the Sand- 
wich — loss of l'Insurgente and Pickering — cruise and actions 
of Enterprise, Lieutenant Commandant Shaw — Boston en- 
gages boats — captures the Berceau — French privateers taken 
— Experiment, Lieutenant Commandant Maley, engages 
barges — Experiment, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, cap- 
tures Diana — captures English privateer — end of French war 
— peace establishment 130 

CHAPTER XVI. 

War with Tripoli — Commodore Dale's squadron — Enterprise 
captures the Tripoli — negotiations 150 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Law of 1802 — Commodore Morris' squadron sent to Mediterra- 
nean — Boston 24, Captain M'Neill — Constellation opens the 
war before the town of Tripoli — movements of squadron under 
Commodore Morris — arrives off Tripoli — attack on wheat ves- 
sels — attack on gun-boats — John Adams, Captain Rodgers, 
destroys an enemy's cruiser — gallant behaviour of Lieutenant 
Commandant Hull — Commodore Morris returns home — deaths 
and resignations 155 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Small cruisers built — third squadron sent to Mediterranean, under 
Commodore Preble — treaty with Morocco — Philadelphia cap- 
tures a Moorish cruiser 165 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Philadelphia 38, Captain Bainbridge — appears off Tripoli — 
chases a xebec — is lost on a reef, and crew captured — list of 
her officers — movements of Commodore Preble — sends ketch 
Intrepid, Lieutenant Decatur, to destroy the Philadelphia — 
frigate burned 169 

CHAPTER XX. 

Year 1804 — Siren takes the Transfer — affair with gun-boats to 
the westward of Tripoli — Commodore Preble appears off the 
port — forces of respective parties — action of 3d of August. . . . 185 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Preparations for new attack — attack of 17th of August — No. 8, 
gun-boat, blown up — John Adams, Captain Chauncey, arrives 
from America — narrow escape of the Argus, Captain Hull — 
bombardment of the 24th — attack of 25th — attack of 3d of 
September 196 

CHAPTER XXII. 

Ketch Intrepid — preparations — her attack — the explosion — pro- 
bable causes of the disaster — private journal of Captain Bain- 
bridge — arrival of squadron of Commodore Barron — Commo- 
modore Preble returns home 205 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

Force in Mediterranean, close of 1804 — expedition of General 
Eaton — force May, 1805 — end of Tripolitan war 216 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Commodore Rodgers goes to Tunis — dictates a treaty— condition 
of the navy 1805-6-7 — Leander kills a man off Sandy Hook 
— Chesapeake 38, Commodore Barron, fitted for the Mediter- 
ranean — English demand for deserters — frigate sails — attacked 
by Leopard 50 — particulars of the affair — courts martial 221 



CONTENTS. IX 

CHAPTER XXV. 

Gun-boats — embargo of 1807 — naval force on the coast — vessels 
on the lakes — vessels in active service — 1811 — President 
punishes Little Belt 232 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

State of navy 1812 — marine corps — English navy — American do. 
— prospects of a war with England — Captains Bainbridge and 
Stewart remonstrate against laying up the vessels of war — 
feeling of country, and of the navy 239 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

War declared, June 18th, 1812 — situation of American navy — 
squadron of Commodore Rodgers — chase of Belvidera 36 — 
unsuccessful pursuit of West-India convoy — English squadron 
under Commodore Broke, takes the Nautilus 12, Lieutenant 
Commandant Crane — celebrated chase of the Constitution 44, 
Captain Hull — cruise of the Essex 32, Captain Porter — cap- 
tures the Alert 18 — second cruise of the Constitution — action 
with the Guerriere — squadron of Commodore Bainbridge. . . . 244 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Commodore Rodgers — action of United States and Macedonian 
— cruise of Argus — action of Wasp and Frolic 262 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

Cruise of the Constitution, Commodore Bainbridge, Hornet, 
Captain Lawrence — action between Constitution and Java — 
Hornet blockades Bonne Citoyenne — action between Hornet 
and Peacock — Hornet returns home — new vessels ordered to 
be built 269 

CHAPTER XXX. 

Essex 32, Captain Porter — takes the Nocton — doubles Cape 
Horn — makes prizes — equips a sloop of war 278 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

Cruises of Essex and Georgiana — prizes — equips Essex Junior 
proceeds to the Marquesas 284 



X CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

Arrival at Nooaheevah — sails for Valparaiso — arrival of Phoebe 
and Cherub — attempt on the latter — blockade — action of 
Phoebe and Cherub with Essex — capture of the Essex — Essex 
Junior sails for America — Lieutenant Gamble 289 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Chesapeake Bay — Constellation frigate — blockaded — Chesa- 
peake 38, Captain Lawrence — sails from Boston — her action 
with the Shannon 38 301 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Smaller cruisers — Vixen — Siren — Enterprise — captures the 
Boxer — chased on the southern coast — Rattlesnake taken. . . . 310 

CHAPTER XXXV. 

New sloops of war — Argus' cruise in British channel — captured 
by the Pelican 314 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

Chesapeake Bay — gun-boats attack British frigates Narcissus 
and Junon — attack on Craney Island — Asp taken — Commo- 
dore Decatur chased into New London — Lieutenant Kearny 
takes the Hebrus' tender — do. Severn's — gun-boat, No. 160, 
taken — affair in the Delaware . 318 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

New vessels launched — Frolic taken by the Orpheus — cruise of 
the Adams — run on a rock — attacked and burned — Wasp 18, 
sails for English channel — action with the Reindeer — goes 
into France — sails again — action with the Avon — continues 
her cruise — probable fate 324 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

Captain Sir Peter Parker — Commodore Barney in Chesapeake 
Bay — his different actions — flotilla burnt — Bladensburgh — 
vessels destroyed at Washington — Baltimore — death of Gene- 
ral Ross 333 



CONTENTS. XI 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

Loss of gun-boats at New Orleans — gallant conduct of the Caro- 
lina — Louisiana cannonade — battle of New Orleans 340 

CHAPTER XL. 

War on the lakes — enemy's force — first attack on Sackett's Har- 
bour — Commodore Chauncey takes command — upper lakes- 
Lieutenant Elliott cuts out two brigs from under Fort Erie — 
John Adams' crew arrives — Commodore Chauncey attacks 
Kingston — bloody affair at Erie, under Lieutenant Angus. . . . 347 

CHAPTER XLI. 

Character of vessels on Lake Ontario — new vessels built— attack 
on York — do. on Fort George 358 

CHAPTER XLII. 

British attack Sackett's Harbour— building— loss of Growler and 
Eagle, on Lake Champlain — attempt on American vessels fails 
— Lake Ontario— York taken a second time — manoeuvring of 
two squadrons — Hamilton and Scourge lost in a squall — ac- 
tion—Growler and Julia taken 365 

CHAPTER XLIII. 

Squadrons in front of each other — fruitless manoeuvres — actions 
without results — action off York — English squadron driven to 
Burlington Bay— enemy escapes — British gun-vessels cap- 
tured — American troops transported 375 

CHAPTER XLIV. 

Captain Perry on Lake Erie — enemy's force — Americans get 
out of Presque Isle — American force — first cruise — reinforce- 
ment of officers and men — battle of Lake Erie 383 

CHAPTER XLV. 

Increased force on Lake Ontario — Oswego taken— Sackett's Har- 
bour blockaded — English party in Salmon river taken — block- 
ade of Sackett's Harbour raised — handsome exploits of Lieu- 
tenant Gregory — Americans blockade Kingston— English two- 
decker gets out— end of the season 396 



Xll CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XL VI. 

Lake Champlain— naval forces — Americans cannonade English 
army — battle of Plattsburg Bay 404 

CHAPTER XLVII. 

Upper lakes — English surprise American schooners off Fort Erie 
— do. in Lake Huron — recapitulation of the service performed 
on the lakes 417 

CHAPTER XLVIII. 

Constitution, Captain Stewart — action with Cyane and Levant — 
Port Praya — English squadron appears — chase of Constitution 
and her prizes— escape of Constitution and Cyane— -capture 
of Levant — services of Old Ironsides 421 

CHAPTER XLIX. 

President, Commodore Decatur — her capture — action between 
Hornet and Penguin— chase of Hornet — Peacock takes the 
Nautilus — end of war 429 

CHAPTER L. 

War against Algiers — squadron despatched to the Mediterranean 
—capture of an Algerine frigate, and of a brig — submission of 
the Regency — treaty concluded — increase of the American 
navy— its present condition, and future prospects 441 



NAVAL HISTORY 



UNITED STATES. 



CHAPTER I. 

1607. 

Notwithstanding the insular position of its seat of au- 
thority, the naval ascendency of England is of comparatively 
recent date ; Spain, and even the diminutive communities of 
Portugal and Holland, manifesting as great a spirit of nautical 
enterprise, during the century and a half that succeeded the 
important discovery of the western hemisphere, and that of a 
passage by sea to India. While these three nations were colo- 
nising extensively, and laying the foundations of future states, 
the seamen of England expended their energies in predatory 
expeditions that were rapacious in their object and piratical in 
spirit. Familiar political causes, beyond a question, had an 
influence in bringing about these results ; for, while the ac- 
cession of the House of Hapsbourg to the throne of Spain and 
the Indies, created a power able to cope with Europe, as it then 
existed, England, driven entirely from her continental posses- 
sions, had Scotland for a troublesome neighbour, and Ireland 
for a discontented and turbulent subject, to check her efforts 
abroad. It is probable, too, that the civil contests, in which 
England was so long engaged, had a serious effect on her 
naval advancement, and the struggle that succeeded the de- 
thronement of the family of Stuart, could not fail to lessen 
exertions that were directed to interests without the territory 
more immediately in dispute. As a consequence of all these 
causes, or of that portion of them which was in existence at 
the commencement of the seventeenth century, when England 
seriously commenced the business of colonisation, Spain, 
France, and Portugal were already in possession of what were 
2 < 13 ) 



14 NAVAL HISTORY. [1607-20. 

then considered the most favourable regions on the American 
continent. When, indeed, the experiment was finally and suc- 
cessfully made, individual enterprise, rather than that of the 
government, achieved the object ; and for many years the 
power of the crown was exercised wilh no other aim than to 
afford an ill-regulated, and frequently an insufficient protec- 
tion. It was Englishmen, and not England, that founded the 
country which is now known as the United States of America. 

The vessels employed in the earliest communications be- 
tween the colonies and the mother country, were small, vary- 
ing from fifty to two hundred tons in burthen. The expedition 
to Plymouth was first attempted in the May Flower, a bark of 
one hundred and eighty tons, and the Speedwell, of sixty tons ; 
but the latter proving leaky, after twice returning to port to 
refit, was abandoned, and the voyage was made in the former 
vessel alone. The May Flower sailed from Plymouth, in Eng- 
land, on the 6th of September, and, after a stormy passage, 
made Cape Cod on the 9th of November. 

The first conflict that took place between the colonists and 
any of their civilized neighbours, occurred in 1613, when an 
expedition from Virginia, under the orders of Captain Samuel 
Argal, arriving on the coast of Nova Scotia, made an attack 
on the new French post of St. Sauveur, which was reduced 
without difficulty. Argal had eleven vessels with him, most 
of which, however, were quite small, and his armaments 
amounted in the whole to fourteen light guns. The French 
were entirely without artillery. The avowed object of this 
enterprise was fishing, but the armament has induced a suspi- 
cion that the end actually effected was also kept in view. 
Whatever might have been the intention in fitting out the first 
force under Captain Argal, it is quite certain, that, on his 
return to Virginia, he was formally sent against the French in 
Acadie, with three vessels, better prepared, and that he laid 
waste the whole of their possessions. Both of these occur- 
rences took place in a time of profound peace, and grew out 
of a claim of the English, to the possession of the whole coast, 
as far north as the 46th degree of latitude. 

On his return to Virginia, Captain Argal entered the bay of 
New York, and demanded possession of that territory also, 
under the plea that it had been discovered by an Englishman. 
Hendrick Christaens, whom Argal styled " a pretended Dutch 
Governor," had no force to resist such a claim, and was com- 
pelled to submit. On the return to Virginia, one of the three 



1614-39.] NAVAL HISTORY. 15 

vessels employed in this expedition was lost, and another hav- 
ing been driven as far east as the Azores, proceeded to Eng- 
land, while Captain Argal alone got into the Chesapeake. 
The prisoners taken on this occasion narrowly escaped being 
executed as pirates ! 

This was the first warlike maritime expedition attempted by 
the American colonists, if a few parties sent in boats against 
the savages be excepted. The Dutch were not dispossessed 
by the useless attempt on their settlement, which appears to 
have been viewed more as a protest than a conquest, for they 
continued to increase and to govern themselves for near half 
a century longer. The first decked vessel built within the old 
United States, of which we have any account, was constructed 
by Schipper Adrian Blok, on the banks of the Hudson, and 
probably within the present limits of New York, during the 
summer of 1614. This vessel De Laet terms a " yacht," and 
describes as having been of the dimensions of thirty-eight feet 
keel, forty-four and a half feet on deck, and eleven feet beam. 
In this "yacht" Blok passed through Hell Gate, into the 
Sound, and steering eastward, he discovered a small island, 
which he named after himself; going as far as Cape Cod, by 
the Vineyard passage. 

According to the same authority, the Dutch at New Amster- 
dam, who had constructed a fort, and reinforced their colony, 
soon after built many more small vessels, sloops and periaguas, 
opening a trade with the savages, by means of the numerous 
bays, sounds, and rivers of their territory. 

It was also in 1614 that the celebrated Capt. John Smith 
arrived from England, and sailed on a coasting voyage, with 
the double purpose of trade and discovery. He went himself 
in a boat, having a crew of only eight men, and the profits, 
as well as the discoveries, abundantly rewarded the risks. 

As early as in 1629 the New England Company employed 
five ships of respectable size, in the trade with the colony. 
Most of these vessels were armed, and all took colonists in their 
outward passages. A small ship was built at or near Boston, 
in 1633, which was one of the first vessels, if not the first 
vessel of any size constructed in New England. But the pro- 
gress of the colony of Massachusetts Bay was so rapid, that 
in 1639 laws were passed to encourage the fisheries, which 
may be considered as the elementary school of American nau- 
tical enterprise. The first engagement that probably ever oc- 
curred between inhabitants of the American colonies, and ene- 



16 NAVAL HISTORY. [1636. 

mies afloat, was a conflict between John Gallop, who was en- 
gaged in a trade with the Indians, in a sloop of twenty tons, 
and some Narragansetts, who had seized upon a small vessel 
belonging to a person of the name of Oldham, known to have 
been similarly occupied. As this, in a certain sense, may be 
deemed the earliest sea-fight of the nation, it is worthy to be 
related. 

Some time in May, 1636, Gallop in his little sloop, manned 
by two men and two boys, himself included, was standing 
along the Sound, near Plum Island, when he was compelled 
by stress of weather to bear up for the islands that form a chain 
between Long Island and Connecticut. On nearing the land, 
he discovered a vessel very similar to his own, which was im- 
mediately recognised as the pinnace of Mr. Oldham, who had 
sailed with a crew of two white boys and two Narragansett 
Indians. Gallop hailed on approaching the other craft, but 
got no answer ; and, running still nearer, no less than four- 
teen Indians were discovered lying on her deck. A canoe, 
conveying goods, and manned by Indians, had just started for 
the shore. Gallop now suspected that Oldham had been over- 
powered by the savages ; a suspicion that was confirmed by 
the Indians slipping their cable, and standing off before the 
wind, in the direction of Narragansett Bay. Satisfied that 
a robbery had been committed, Gallop made sail in chase, and 
running alongside the pinnace, he fired a volley of duck-shot 
at the savages. The latter had swords, spears, and some fire- 
arms, and they attempted a resistance, but Gallop soon drove 
them below to a man. Afraid to board in the face of' such 
odds, Gallop now had recourse to a novel expedient to dislodge 
his enemies. As the pinnace was virtually adrift, she soon 
fell to leeward, while the sloop hauled by the wind. As soon 
as the two vessels were far enough asunder, Gallop put his 
helm up, and ran directly down on the weather quarter of the 
pinnace, striking her with so much violence as to come near 
forcing her over on her side. The shock so much alarmed 
the Indians, that six of them rushed frantically on deck, and 
leaped into the sea. The sloop again hauled off, when Gallop 
lashed an anchor to her bows, and running down on the pin- 
nace a second time, he forced the flukes through the sides of 
the latter, which are represented as having been made of boards. 
The two vessels were now fast to each other, and the crew of 
the sloop began to fire through the sides of the pinnace, into 
her hold. Finding it impossible, however, to drive his ene- 



1636.] NAVAL HISTORY. 17 

mies up, Gallop loosened his fasts, and hauled up to windward 
a third time, when four or five more of the Indians jumped 
overboard. One Indian now appeared on deck and offered to 
submit. Gallop ran alongside, and received this man in the 
sloop ; he was bound hands and feet, and put into the hold. An- 
other soon followed this example, and he was also received on 
board the sloop and bound ; but, fearful if two of his wily- 
foes were permitted to commune together, that they would lib- 
erate themselves, the second prisoner was thrown into the sea. 
Only two Indians now remained in the pinnace. They had 
got into a small apartment below, and being armed, they show- 
ed a disposition to defend themselves, when Gallop removed 
all the goods that remained into his own sloop, stripped the 
pinnace of her sails, took her in tow, and hauled up for the 
islands again. But the wind increasing, the pinnace was cut 
adrift, and she disappeared in the direction of Narragansett 
Bay, where it is probable she was stranded in the course of a 
Cew hours. 

On board the pinnace, Gallop found the body of Mr. Old- 
ham. The head had been cleft, the hands and legs were much 
mangled, and the flesh was still warm. The corpse was thrown 
into the sea. 

Thus terminated this extraordinary conflict, in which Gal- 
lop appears to have shown as much conduct as courage, and 
which in itself illustrates the vast superiority that belongs to 
professional skill on an element like the sea. As it was of the 
last importance to create a respect for the English name, the 
report of the conqueror on this occasion induced the govern- 
ment of Massachusetts to send an expedition against the of- 
fenders, under Mr. Endecott, one of the assistants, which did 
the Indians much injury in the destruction of their dwellings 
and crops, though the savages themselves took to flight. This 
expedition, however, was followed up by others that met with 
greater success. 

The French in Acadie, also, gave rise to two or three unim- 
portant armaments, which led to no results worthy of being 
recorded. 

Notwithstanding the frequency of the Indian conflicts, and 
the repeated visits of the French, the first regular cruisers em- 
ployed by the American colonists appear to have owed their 
existence to misunderstandings with the Dutch of the New 
Netherlands. The colony of New Haven had so far increas- 
ed as to cause a vessel of one hundred and fifty tons to be 
2* 



18 NAVAL HISTORY. [1646-80. 

built in Rhode Island, as early as the year 1646, but the ship 
was lost at sea on her first passage. Shortly after, a small 
cruiser, carrying ten guns, and forty men, was employed by 
the united colonies of Hartford and New Haven, to cruise in 
Long Island Sound, with a view to prevent the encroachments 
of the Dutch, and to keep open the communication with the 
settlements they had made on the opposite shore. In 1654, 
orders were received from Parliament to treat the Dutch as 
enemies, but both communities were still too young and feeble 
to engage in a warfare that was not considered of paramount 
necessity. Nothing effective appears to have been done under 
these instructions. 

At a later day, or in 1665-6, Connecticut kept another 
small vessel cruising off Watch Hill, in order to prevent the 
Narragansett Indians from crossing to attack the Montauk 
tribe, which had been taken under the protection of the colony. 

In 1645, a ship of some size was built at Cambridge, Mas- 
sachusetts, and receiving an armament of fourteen guns, and 
a crew of thirty men, she sailed for the Canary Isles. This 
vessel fell in with a rover, of twenty guns, and seventy men, 
supposed to belong to Barbary, when an action took place 
that continued the entire day. The rover receiving some seri- 
ous injury in her rudder, the New England ship was enabled 
to escape. Although the conflict between Gallop and the Nar- 
ragansetts is, in one sense, entitled to the precedency, this ac- 
tion may be set down as the first regular naval combat in which 
any American vessel is known to have been engaged. 

An important change occurred, in 1664, in the situation of 
the American colonies, by the capture of New Netherlands 
from the Dutch. The vessels employed on this service were 
under the orders of Sir Robert Carr, while Colonel Richard 
Nicoll commanded the troops. No resistance was made. In 
consequence of this accession of territory, and the submission 
of the Swedish settlements on the Delaware, the English Col- 
onies had entire possession of the coast, between the Bay of 
Fundy and the Floridas. 

While the English were thus occupying the coast, the French 
were gradually extending themselves along the chain of Great 
Lakes in the interior, drawing a belt around the territories of 
their rivals. In the course of events of this nature, de la Salle 
launched a vessel often tons on Lake Ontario, in 1678, which 
was the first decked boat that ever sailed on those waters. 



1666-90.] NAVAL HISTORY. 19 

The following year, he caused a vessel of sixty tons to be 
launched on Lake Erie. 

The buccaneers began to commit depredations in the Ameri- 
can seas, about the year 1666; and piracies on a smaller 
scale, were not unfrequent at a much earlier day. These 
buccaneers originally were mere outlaws in the West India 
Islands. Compelled at length to unite, they assembled at the 
Tortugas, and began to plunder such vessels as approached 
the shore ; most of their robberies being committed by means 
of open boats. The Spanish vessels, in particular, became the 
objects of their assaults ; and encouraged by success, they 
began to cruise farther from the land. Their numbers rapidly 
increased, and ere long they ventured to make descents on the 
coasts, more especially on those of the Spanish settlements, in 
quest of plunder. It is a mark of the peculiar character of the 
age, that these freebooters often commenced their enterprises 
with prayer ! — They spent their ill-gotten wealth as profligately 
as it had been obtained, and like more powerful bodies of men, 
were finally destroyed by the excesses engendered by their 
own prosperity. 

In consequence of the great number of privateers that sailed 
out of Acadie, the general court of Massachusetts sent an expe- 
dition against Port Royal, in 1690. The forces were com- 
manded by Sir William Phipps, and amounted to between 700 
and 800 men, who were embarked in eight small vessels. 
This expedition sailed on the 28th of April, and returned on 
the 30th of May, having been successful. The good fortune 
that attended this enterprise, induced the government of Massa- 
chusetts to attempt another against a place as important as 
Quebec. Sir William Phipps again commanded, having be- 
tween thirty and forty vessels, the largest of which was of 44 
guns and 200 men, and the whole number of the troops and 
seamen employed w r as about 2000. These forces reached 
Quebec, October the 5th, 1690, and landed, October the 8th. 
The force disembarked was about 12 or 1300 men, but it was 
repulsed without much fighting. On their return to Boston, 
the ships were dispersed by a gale, and little credit was gained 
by the undertaking. 

The Falkland, a fourth-rate, was launched in the Piscata- 
qua, in 1690, and was the first ship-of-the-line ever built in 
America. 

Much alarm existed along the coast, about this time, from 
an apprehension of the French, who were understood to be 



20 NAVAL HISTORY. [1700. 

cruising in the American seas. We learn, indeed, from the 
whole history of that period, how nearly balanced were the 
naval powers of Europe ; England, France, Spain, and Hol- 
land, standing in mutual awe of each other, on the high seas. 



CHAPTER II. 

The close of the seventeenth century was the period when 
the piracies had got to be the most serious, and when Kidd was 
guilty of those acts that have since given him a notoriety that 
would seem to be altogether disproportioned to his deeds. 
During the' wars of that day, the seas had been much infested 
with a species of privateers, that often committed aggressions, 
and even piracies, on neutral vessels. Most of these rovers 
were English ; and it is said that they sometimes plundered 
their own countrymen. New York was not entirely exempt 
from the suspicion of having equipped several vessels of this 
description, and very unpleasant surmises affected the charac- 
ters of some distinguished men of the colony, the governor, 
Fletcher, among others. In appreciating such charges, it is 
necessary to remember the character of the age, there being 
no disgrace attached to adventures in private armed ships, and 
the transition from fighting for plunder, and plundering unlaw- 
fully, is very trifling, in remote seas, where testimony is not 
easily obtained, and the law is impotent. That which men can 
practise with impunity, they are apt to undertake, when tempted 
by cupidity ; and that which is frequent, ceases to shock the 
sense of right. It is by no means probable that either Governor 
Fletcher, or any distinguished colonist, deliberately engaged in 
piratical adventures ; but it is quite possible that such men may 
have been concerned in the equipment of private cruisers, that 
subsequently committed acts which the laws condemned. It 
is possible, that when such vessels have returned, a rigid in- 
quiry into the origin of the plunder they brought with them, 
was not always made. Such, in some measure, was the case 
with Kidd, whose subsequent notoriety appears to have been 
as much owing to the eclat with which he sailed, sanctioned 
by government, and supported by men of character, and to 



1699.] NAVAL HISTORY. 21 

some striking incidents that accompanied his return, as to any- 
extraordinary excesses as a pirate. The facts of his case 
appear to have been as follows : 

Much odium having been cast on the colony of New York, 
in consequence of the number of piracies that had been com- 
mitted by rovers sailing from the port of that name, the govern- 
ment in England deemed it necessary to take serious measures 
to repress the evil. This duty was in particular confided to 
the Earl of Bellamont, who had been appointed the governor 
of several of the colonies. Mr. Robert Livingston happening 
to be in England when the subject was under discussion, and 
being a man of influence in the colony of New York, he was 
conferred with, as to the most advisable means of putting an 
end to the practice. Mr. Livingston advised that a cruiser of 
force should be sent out expressly to seize all lawless rovers, 
and he introduced to Lord Bellamont, Captain Wm. Kidd, whom 
he recommended as a seaman qualified to be put at the head 
of such an adventure. Captain Kidd was said to have a know- 
ledge of the pirates, and of their places of resort ; and at the 
same time, to be a man on whose integrity and services full 
reliance might be placed. The first proposition was to employ 
a king's ship of 30 guns and 150 men on this service; but the 
war requiring all the regular cruisers, it is a proof of the spirit 
of the times, that the matter was referred to private enterprise, 
although the sanction of government was not only promised, 
but obtained. Mr. Livingston took one-fifth of the shares, and 
became the usual security for the lawfulness of Kidd's pro- 
ceedings. The Lord Chancellor, and several other distin- 
guished noblemen, took shares in the adventure also, and the 
crown reserved to itself a tenth of the proceeds, as a proof that 
it approved of the enterprise. Kidd received his commission 
and his orders from the Earl of Bellamont, whom he followed 
to America for that purpose, sailing from Plymouth in Eng- 
land, April 1696, for New York. There is much reason for 
thinking that Captain Kidd was not guilty of any illegal act 
himself, until he found that his more legitimate enterprise was 
not likely to be successful. In the end, however, he went to 
the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, where he certainly 
committed piracies, though to what extent is now questionable. 
He was accused of ravaging the sea between Madagascar and 
the coast, from Babelmandel to Malabar, and of committing 
the usual excesses, though it. is probable that there was much ex- 
aggeration mixed up with the histories and rumours of the day. 



22 NAVAL HISTORY. [ 16 ^. 

Some accounts confine his piracies to a single ship, though it 
is more than probable that he had a disposition to the vocation, 
and that he was easily diverted from the object with which he 
had sailed, even if he did not contemplate piracy on quitting 
port. After an absence of about three years, Kidd returned to 
the American coast, first appearing off" the east end of Long 
Island. About thirty miles to the westward of Montauk, pro- 
tected from the ocean by the southern branch of the island just 
mentioned, is a capacious bay that obtains its name from 
another small island, which is so placed as to defend it against 
the northeast gales. The latter island contains about three 
thousand acres of land, and ever since the country has been 
settled, or for two centuries, it has been the property of an 
honourable family of the name of Gardiner, which has given 
its name to both the island and the bay. The latter has an 
anchorage that has long been known to seamen, and into 
Gardiner's Bay Kidd sailed on this occasion. Anchoring near 
the island, he landed, and buried some treasure ; entrusting 
Mr. Gardiner with the secret, and making the life of the latter 
the pledge of his fidelity. This effected, the pirate again sailed, 
and made similar deposits on other parts of the coast. 

After a short interval, Kidd paid and discharged his crew, 
and it is said burned his ship. He appeared in Boston in 1699, 
and was immediately seized by the order of Governor Bella- 
mont. Among his papers was found a record, containing lists 
of his several deposits, which it is probable he held in reserve 
for his own share of the booty, when he should have made his 
peace with those in power with the remainder. The authori- 
ties, however, were inflexible, and commissioners were imme- 
diately sent in quest of the buried booty. When these persons 
presented themselves to Mr. Gardiner, and assured him that 
Kidd was in confinement, that gentleman led them to the spot 
where the box was concealed, and it was recovered. The 
papers of the Gardiner family show that the contents of the 
box were bags of gold dust, bags of gold bars, the latter to a 
considerable amount, coined gold and silver, silver bars, pre- 
cious stones, silver lamps, &c, &c, in all to the amount of 
near twenty thousand dollars. Most, if not all, of the other 
deposits were also obtained. Kidd was sent to England, tried 
and condemned. The indictments were for both murder and 
piracy, but being found guilty of (he first crime, he was never 
tried for the last. He was not executed, until May the 9th, 
1701. 



1702-11.] NAVAL HISTORY. 23 

The year that Kidd was sent to England, seven pirates were 
executed in Charleston, South Carolina, that coast having been 
much infested with these robbers. 

From an early day the possession of Port Royal in Acadie, 
appears to have been a favourite object with the colonists, most 
probably from the great interest they felt in the fisheries. We 
have already seen that expeditions were sent against this place, 
in the earlier wars, while we now find no less than three un- 
dertaken, with the same object, in the war of 1702-12. The 
first of these expeditions was set on foot in 1707, being almost 
purely of colonial origin. It sailed in May, in twenty-three 
transports and whale-boats, under the convoy of the Deptford 
man-of-war, Captain Stuckley, accompanied by the Province, 
galley, Captain Southack. This expedition effected nothing. 
The second attempt was not made until the year 1709, when 
an enterprise on a larger scale was planned. According to 
Trumbull, the colonies east of Connecticut were ordered to 
raise 1200 men for this undertaking, and to provide transports, 
pilots, and provisions for three months, while Connecticut itself 
and the more southern provinces, were to send a force of 1500 
men, by land, against Montreal. The maritime part of the 
expedition was abandoned, after waiting three months in the 
port of Boston for the British ships that were to convoy it, and 
to aid in subduing the place. The attack on Montreal was 
also given up, for want of the expected co-operation. The 
third attempt was made in 1710, when a Colonel Nichol- 
son, of the English service, was entrusted with the command. 
On 'this occasion the preparations were made conjointly by 
the crown and the provinces, the latter furnishing the trans- 
ports and several cruisers. The fleet consisted, in all, of 36 
sail ; viz. three fourth-rates, two fifth-rates, five frigates, a 
bomb ketch, the Province, galley, and twenty-four transports. 
In these vessels were embarked a regiment of marines, and 
five regiments of provincials. The expedition sailed from 
Boston on the 18th of September, arrived off Port Royal on 
the 24th, and on the 1st of October the place submitted. Its 
name was changed to Annapolis, by which appellation it is yet 
known. Stimulated by this success, a still more important 
attempt was made in 1711, against the French possessions 
on the banks of the St. Lawrence. England now appeared 
disposed to put forth her power in earnest, and a fleet of fif- 
teen sail, twelve of which were sent directly from England, 
and three of which had been stationed on the coast, were put 



24 NAVAL HISTO It Y. [1711. 

under the orders of Vice-admiral Sir Hovenden Walker, for 
that purpose. In this fleet were several ships of the line, and 
it was accompanied by forty transports and six store vessels. 
Five of the veteran regiments that had served under Marlbo- 
rough, were sent out with the fleet, and two regiments raised 
in New England being added to them, the land forces amounted 
to between 6000 and 7000 men. 

After considerable delay, the fleet sailed on the 30th of 
July, 1711, when the Governor of Massachusetts ordered a 
fast to be observed every Thursday, until the result should be 
known. On the 14th of August the ships entered the St. Law- 
rence, and on the 18th the admiral, in order to collect his 
transports, put into the bay of Gaspe. Here he remained 
until the 20th, when the fleet proceeded. On the 20th the 
ships were off soundings, out of sight of land, and enveloped 
in a fog, with a gale at E. S. E. The fleet now brought to 
with the ships' heads to the southward. Notwithstanding this 
precaution, it was soon discovered that the whole of them were 
in imminent jeopardy among the rocks, islands, and currents 
of the north-shore, which was, moreover, a lee shore. Some 
of the vessels saved themselves by anchoring, among which 
was the Edgar, 70, the admiral's own ship ; but eight trans- 
ports were lost, together with a thousahd people ; and the ex- 
pedition was abandoned. The admiral now dismissed the pro- 
vincial troops and vessels, and sailed for England with the re- 
mainder of the fleet. These signal disasters led to loud com- 
plaints and to bitter recriminations between the English and 
the American officers. To the latter was attributed a fatal 
loss of time, in raising their levies and making other prepara- 
tions, which brought the expedition too late in the season ; and 
they were also accused of furnishing incompetent pilots. It is 
probable that the first accusation was not without foundation, 
since it has been a known national failing to defer all military 
preparations to the latest possible moment, from the day the 
country has been peopled ; though the last was no doubt un- 
merited, as there could be no motive for furnishing any other 
pilots than the best that the colonies possessed. On the part 
of the Americans, the admiral, and the English commanders 
in general, were said to be opinionated and indisposed to take 
advice ; a charge quite as likely to be true, as it also accords 
with national character, and more especially with the super- 
ciliousness with which the English were known to regard the 
provincials. The admiral threw the responsibility of having 



1717.J NAVAL HISTORY. 25 

hove-to the fleet on the pilots, who, in their turn, declared that 
it was done contrary to their advice. Some French pilots are 
said, by Charlevoix, to have also warned the admiral of his 
danger, but he equally disregarded their information. It is in 
favour of the provincials, that, one small victualler excepted, 
none of their own vessels were lost, and that the crew of this 
victualler was saved. Many of the pilots were sent to Eng- 
land to be examined before the Privy Council, but no investi- 
gation into the affair took place. The loss of the admiral's 
papers is thought to have put an end to the contemplated in- 
quiry, the Edgar having been blown up, by accident, at Ply- 
mouth, shortly after her return, by which event 400 men lost 
their lives ; thus terminating a most disastrous expedition by a 
dire calamity. It ought to be mentioned, that the colonies met 
the charge of delay, by showing that the orders to raise troops, 
and to make the other requisite preparations, were received 
only sixteen days before Sir Hovenden Walker arrived in port 
with his fleet. 

The first negro slaves brought into the country, were landed 
from a Dutch man-of-war, at James Town, in 1620.* Where 
these poor Africans were obtained is not now known, but they 
were most probably the victims of perfidy. The increase 
among the blacks was very slow, however ; for thirty years 
later the whites of Virginia were said to outnumber the ne- 
groes, in the proportion of fifty to one ; and even when the 
colony had been settled seventy years, the slaves were not at 
all numerous."!" 

The first American vessel engaged in the slave-trade, of 
which we have any account, sailed from Boston, for the coast 
of Guinea, in 1645, having been fitted out by Thomas Keyser 
and James Smith.:}: The last of these worthies was a member 
of the church. To the credit of the people of Boston, their 
sense of right revolted at the act, the parties concerned were 
arraigned, and the slaves were ordered to be restored to their 
native country at the public expense. 

We turn with satisfaction to the whale-fisheries. The com- 
mencement of this manly, lucrative, and hardy pursuit, dates 
from an early period in the history of the country. The whale 
frequenting the American seas at that time, the people of the 
coasts kept boats, organized themselves into gangs, and when- 
ever a spout was seen, they would launch in pursuit. This 

* Beverly. t Bancroft. X Ibid. 

3 



26 NAVAL HISTORY. [1739-44. 

irregular system prevailed many years, until sloops, and other 
small craft, began to be employed in the offing. These vessels 
would range the coast, as far south as the West Indies, and 
north to Davis's Straits. They occasionally crossed to the 
Azores, where a rich booty was sometimes obtained in the 
spermaceti. 

The whale-fishery on a larger scale, dates from about the 
middle of the eighteenth century, when Massachusetts in par- 
ticular, engaged extensively in the enterprise. This colony 
alone is said to have had no less than three hundred vessels 
employed in the northern and southern whale-fisheries, previ- 
ously to the war of the Revolution. Her vessels led the way 
to the South Atlantic, to the African coast, and to the Pacific 
Ocean. 

After the war which was terminated by the peace of Utrecht, 
most of the maritime colonies employed a species of guarda- 
costas, small armed vessels, that were maintained for the sup- 
pression of piracies, and for the general protection of the 
coasts. Some of these vessels were commanded by young 
officers, who afterwards rose to more or less distinction, either 
at home, or in the British service. Among others was Lieu- 
tenant Wooster, afterwards Captain Wooster, who commanded 
the armed vessel employed by Massachusetts. This gentleman 
was subsequently killed at Danbury, during the Revolution, 
holding the rank of a Brigadier-General in the militia of his 
native state. 

England declared war, in 1739, against Spain, and the 
American Colonies became the seat of many of her prepara- 
tions and levies. Natives of the country were much employed 
in the different expeditions, and it is well known that the estate 
which has since acquired so much celebrity on account of its 
having been the property of Washington, obtained the appella- 
tion of Mount Vernon from the circumstance that an elder 
brother, from whom that great man inherited it, had served in 
the celebrated attack against Carthagena, under the admiral of 
that name. In 1741, the colonies supplied many of the trans- 
ports sent against Cuba. 

The year 1744 became memorable in the history of the 
colonies, by another declaration of war against France. By 
this time the importance of all the American provinces, whether 
English, French, or Spanish, was certain to render them, more 
or less, the seat of the contests ; and the great European states 
interested, were now found seriously exhibiting their power in 



1744-45. j NAVAL HISTORY. 27 

the Western hemisphere. The short duration of the war, pro- 
bably, alone prevented America from being the scene of those 
severe struggles that were deferred a few years by the peace 
of Aix la Chapelle. Short as was the contest, however, it af- 
forded the colonists an opportunity of manifesting both their 
spirit and their resources, by an expedition against Louis- 
bourg. 

The French had long been aware of the importance of a 
port that commanded the entrance of the St. Lawrence, as 
Gibraltar commands the approach to the Mediterranean, and 
vast sums of money had been expended on the fortifications of 
Louisbourg. It is said that no less than $6,000,000 were ap- 
propriated to this object, and a quarter of a century had been 
consumed in the preparations. The place was so formidable 
as to have been termed a second Dunkirk. So conscious had 
Massachusetts become of her strength, however, that no sooner 
was the declaration of war known, than Governor Shirley laid 
propositions before the English ministry and the colonial legis- 
lature, for the reduction of this great naval and military sta- 
tion. The General Court of Massachusetts, at first, was afraid 
to embark in so serious an enterprise without assurances of 
support from home, as England was then affectionately termed, 
but the people of the colony getting a knowledge of the 
Governor's wishes, seconded him so strongly with petitions, 
that the measure was finally carried by a majority of one. 
Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire lent their aid, 
and by the 25th of March, 1745, the expedition was ready to 
sail. Not a British soldier was employed, and when the fleet 
left Boston, it was with very uncertain hopes of being supported 
by any of the King's ships. 

The land forces, all levies of New England, no other colony 
joining in the enterprise, were led by Colonel William Pep- 
perel, of Kittery, in Maine, and the fleet was commanded by 
Captain Edward Tyng, of the Massachusetts colonial marine. 
The naval part of these forces consisted principally of vessels 
equipped, or hired, for this especial service. There appear to 
have been twelve in all, besides the transports, the largest car- 
rying but 20 guns. The land forces amounted to 4070 men. 
From the various and contradictory accounts of this arma- 
ment, we gather the following list of the colonial cruisers en- 
gaged in the expedition, viz : Ships, Massachusetts, 20, Com- 
modore Tyng ; Caesar, 20, Captain Snelling ; Snows, Shirley, 
20, Captain Rouse ; Prince of Orange, 16, Captain Smethurst ; 



28 NAVAL HISTORY. [1745 

Brig Boston Packet, 16, Captain Fletcher; and Sloops, 



12, Donahue ; , 8, Saunders ; , Bosch ; a ship hired 

by Rhode Island, 20, Captain Griffen, and two vessels of 16 
guns each, belonging to Connecticut. 

The fleet reached Canseau on the 4th of April, where it re- 
mained some weeks, to be joined by the levies of New Hamp- 
shire and Connecticut, as well as to allow time for tbe ice to 
dissolve in the neighbourhood of Cape Breton. For the first 
time, probably, in the history of the colonies, large military 
preparations had been made in season, and the result triumph- 
antly showed the benefit of the unwonted alacrity. Here 
Com. Warren, of the British navy, joined the expedition, with a 
part of the squadron from the West-Indies, in which seas, and on 
the American coast, he had long commanded. This excellent 
and efficient officer, than whom there was not a braver in the 
British marine, brought with him the Superb, 60, and three 
ships of forty guns ; his broad pennant flying in the former. 
Of course, he assumed the command of the naval operations, 
though great distrust appears to have existed between him and 
Colonel Pepperel to the last. After a conference with the 
latter, he went off Louisbourg, which he blockaded. 

Louisbourg was invested by land on the 30th of April, and 
after a vigorous siege of forty-seven days, during which lime 
a severe cannonade was carried on, the place submitted. The 
French flags were kept flying for some time after the surrender, 
by which ruse two East Indiamen and a South Sea ship, all 
richly laden, were decoyed into the mouth of the harbour and 
captured. The value of these three vessels has been estimated 
as high as $3,000,000. 

While cruising off the port, Commodore Warren captured 
the French man-of-war, Vigilant, 60, with troops and supplies 
for the garrison. This important event, no doubt, was of great 
moment to the result of the siege. 

Although the naval part of the colonial expedition could 
have been of no great account after the arrival of Commodore 
Warren, it took the sea with creditable vigour, as soon as 
Louisbourg had submitted. The Shirley, Galley, 20, Captain 
Rouse, or as the vessel is sometimes called, the Snow, Shirley, 
captured eight French vessels, and, in one instance, she brought 
in two, taken after an obstinate and gallant resistance. For 
this exploit, that officer received the commission of a captain 
in the King's service. 

No less than 400 privateers are said to have been out from 



1749-50.] NAVAL HISTORY. 29 

the colonies in this war, but the number is so incredible as to 
give rise to the conjecture that the estimate includes letters of 
marque and boats on the coast. Nothing worthy of much 
notice occurred in America, during this short war, besides the 
capture of Louisbourg, and this place was restored to the 
French at the peace. 



CHAPTER III. 

The peace of Aix la Chapelle found the navigation of the 
American colonies in a very flourishing condition. More than 
a century had elapsed since the settlements had passed the 
ordeal of their infant struggles, and although distant from each 
other, and labouring under the disadvantages of a scattered 
population, they were fast rising to the dignity and power of 
states. The necessity of maintaining all their more important 
communications by water, had a direct tendency to encourage 
a disposition to the sea, and, although without a regular war- 
like marine, their mercantile tonnage probably equalled that 
of the mother country, when considered in reference to popu- 
lation. The number of souls in all the provinces, at that 
period, did not much exceed a million, if the Indians be excluded 
from the computation. Of the tonnage it is not easy to speak 
with accuracy, though we possess sufficient authority by which 
to form some general estimates. The year of the peace, 500 
vessels are said to have cleared from the single port of Boston, 
and 430 to have entered ; this was exclusively of coasters and 
fishing vessels. At Portsmouth, New Hampshire, there were 
121 clearances, and 73 entries, besides 200 coasting vessels in 
regular employment. The trade of New York and Philadel- 
phia was less than that of Boston, but still respectable. Thus 
in 1749, or the year succeeding that of the peace, the clear- 
ances at Philadelphia were 291, and the entries 303 ; while 
Boston, during the same period, had 504 clearances, and 489 
entries. In 1750, a year in which the navigation had sensibly 
diminished, the clearances of the former port were 286, and 
the entries 232. Many ports, which have since lost most of 
their navigation, then enjoyed a respectable trade, among 
3* 



30 NAVAL HISTORY. [1750-63. 

which may be mentioned Newport, Rhode Island, and Perth 
Amboy, New Jersey. 

Up to this period, the common white oak of the forest was 
the wood principally used in naval constructions, though the 
chestnut was also found serviceable in particular parts of the 
frames. But a new era in ship-building was at hand, through 
the introduction of a wood that greatly abounded in the more 
southern maritime regions of British America. In 1750, a 
vessel called the Live Oak arrived in Charleston, South Caro- 
lina, having been built of the invaluable timber named, which 
was now discovered to be one of the best materials for naval 
architecture known. The Live Oak is said to have been the 
first vessel in which this wood was ever used. 

The tranquillity established by the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, 
like that produced by the peace of Utrecht, was of short con- 
tinuance. Disputes early commenced between the English and 
French provinces, in relation to their boundaries ; and an in- 
land war actually broke out between them in 1754, though the 
peace of Europe was not immediately disturbed by this remote 
and local contest. This singular state of things continued 
throughout 1755, and the campaign of that year was one of 
the most important that had then occurred on the American 
continent. Both nations reinforced their troops from Europe, 
and strong squadrons were employed to protect the convoys ; 
but there being no technical hostilities, commissions were not 
issued to letters of marque and privateers. After many in- 
effectual attempts at an accommodation, however, the King of 
Great Britain made a formal declaration of war on the 17th of 
May, 1756. 

Such was the commencement of the struggle that in America 
is familiarly called " the old French war." Although this 
contest was of the last importance to the colonies, by driving 
the French from their part of the continent, and by leaving the 
savages without an ally, its events were more properly con- 
nected with the movements of armies, than with any naval 
operations of magnitude, so far as the latter belong to the 
subject of this work. The beginning of the war was disas- 
trous ; but in the end, the celebrated Earl of Chatham suc- 
ceeded in infusing a portion of his own energy into the councils 
of the King, and from that moment the most brilliant success 
rewarded his efforts. 

Peace was signed on the 10th of February, 1763, and from 
that day France ceased to claim any portion of the American 



1763-72.] NAVAL HISTORY. 31 

Continent north of Louisiana, with the exception of two insig- 
nificant fishing stations, near the outlet of the St. Lawrence. 
The conquests of this war were an incipient step towards the 
eventual independence of the colonies, since the latter found 
themselves without any enemy in their vicinity, to cause them 
to lean on England for succour, or to divert their policy from 
those domestic measures which were more immediately con- 
nected with their internal prosperity. 

At the close of this great contest, the original American 
colonies, or those which have since constituted the United 
States, without including the Floridas and Louisiana, are sup- 
posed to have contained more than 1,200,000 souls, exclusively 
of Indians. Censuses were actually taken in one or two of the 
provinces. That of Massachusetts gave a return a little ex- 
ceeding 245,000, including 5000 people of colour. That of 
Maryland, taken in 1755, gave a total of 107,208 whites, a 
number considerably exceeding the estimates after the peace. 

Immediately after the peace of 1763, commenced that legis- 
lative usurpation on the part of the mother country, which 
twenty years later terminated in the independence of the colo- 
nies. 

Among the offensive measures adopted by parliament was a 
duty on stamps, and another on tea. By the first, vessels 
could not regularly proceed to sea, unless furnished with the 
required stamps ; yet so strong was the opposition, that ships 
actually ventured on the ocean without the necessary papers ; 
nor is it known that any serious consequences resulted 
from so bold a step. In the end, the stamp-officers having 
resigned, and no one being willing to incur the odium of filling 
their places, the courts of justice themselves transacted busi- 
ness without regard to those forms that the acts of parliament 
had rendered necessary. This tax was finally abandoned, and 
substitutes were sought, that were believed to be more manage- 
able. 

Fresh attempts to enforce the navigation act, which had 
virtually become a dead letter, were made in 1768, and a sloop 
from Madeira, loaded with wine, was actually seized in Boston, 
and placed under the guns of the Romney man-of-war. A 
mob followed, and the public officers were compelled to seek 
protection in the castle. 

One of the first overt acts of resistance that took place in 
this celebrated struggle, occurred in 1772, in the waters of 
Rhode Island. A vessel of war had been stationed on the coast 



32 NAVAL HISTORY. [1772-73. 

to enforce the laws, and a small schooner, called the Gaspe, 
with a light armament and twenty-seven men, was employed 
as a tender, to run into the shallow waters of that coast. On the 
17th of June, 1772, a Providence packet, that plied between 
New York and Rhode Island, named the Hannah, and com- 
manded by a Captain Linzee, hove in sight of the man-of-war, 
on her passage up the bay. The Hannah was ordered to 
bring to, in order to be examined ; but her master refused to 
comply ; and being favoured by a fresh southerly breeze, that 
was fast sweeping him out of gunshot, the Gaspe was signalled 
to follow. The chase continued for five-and-twenty miles, 
under a press of sail, when the Hannah coming up with a bar, 
with which her master was familiar, and drawing less water 
than the schooner, Captain Linzee led the latter on a shoal, 
where she stuck. The tide falling, the Gaspe sewed, and was 
not in a condition to be removed for several hours. 

The news of the chase was circulated on the arrival of the 
Hannah at Providence. A strong feeling was excited among 
the population, and towards evening the town drummer ap- 
peared in the streets, assembling the people. A crowd being 
collected, the drummer led his followers in front of a shed, 
when a man disguised as an Indian suddenly appeared on the 
roof, and proclaimed a secret expedition for that night, inviting 
all of " stout hearts " to assemble on the wharf, precisely at 
nine, disguised like himself. At the appointed hour, most of 
the men in the place collected at the spot designated, when 
sixty-four were selected for the undertaking that was in view. 

This party embarked in eight of the launches of the different 
vessels lying at the wharves, and taking with them a quantity 
of round paving-stones, they pulled down the river in a body. 
The commander is supposed to have been a Captain Whipple, 
who afterwards held a commission in the service of Congress, 
but none of the names were publicly mentioned at the time. 
On nearing the Gaspe, about two in the morning, the boats 
were hailed by a sentinel on deck. This man was driven be- 
low by a volley of stones. The commander of the Gaspe now 
appeared, and ordering the boats off, he fired a pistol at them. 
This discharge was returned from a musket, and the officer 
was shot through the thigh. By this time, the crew of the 
Gaspe had assembled, and the party from Providence boarded. 
The conflict was short, the schooner's people being knocked 
down and secured. All on board were put into the boats, and 
the Gaspe was set on fire. Towards morning, she blew up. 



1773] NAVAL HISTORY. 33 

This bold step naturally excited great indignation in the 
British officers, and all possible means were taken to discover 
the offenders. The Government at home offered a reward of 
£1000 sterling for the leader, and £500 to any person who 
would discover the other parties, with the promise of a pardon 
should the informer be an accomplice. But the feeling of the 
times was too high for the ordinary means of detection, no 
evidence having ever been obtained sufficient even to arraign 
a solitary individual, notwithstanding a Commission of Inquiry, 
under the Great Seal of England, sat with that object, from 
January to June, during the year 1773. 

Although this affair led to no immediate results, it doubtless 
had its influence in widening the breach between the opposing 
parties, and it is worthy of remark, that in it was shed the first 
blood that flowed in the struggle for American Independence ; 
the whole transaction being as direct a resistance to oppression, 
as the subsequent, and better known fight at Lexington. 

The year 1773 is memorable in American history, for the 
resistance made by the colonists to the duty on tea. By means 
of some management on the part of the British ministry, in 
permitting the East India Company to export their teas free of 
charges, it was possible to sell the article at a lower rate in 
America, subject to the duty, than it could have been sold pre- 
viously to the imposition of the tax. Fancying that this cir- 
cumstance would favour the views of all the parties in Europe, 
for the warehouses of the company were glutted in conse- 
quence of the system of non-importation adopted by the colo- 
nists, several cargoes were sent to different ports, including 
New York, Philadelphia, Charleston and Boston. The inhabi- 
tants of the two former places compelled the ships to return to 
London, without unloading, while the people of Charleston 
caused their vessel to be discharged, and the tea to be stored 
in damp cellars, where it finally spoiled. 

Three vessels loaded with the offensive article had been sent 
to Boston, and the inhabitants succeeded in persuading the ship- 
masters to consent to return to London, without discharging, 
but the consignees refused to release them from their charter- 
parties, while the authorities denied the necessary clearances. 
The Governor even withheld the permit necessary to pass the 
fort. This conduct produced great excitement, and prepara- 
tions were made to destroy the tea, under an apprehension that 
it might be gradually and clandestinely landed. Suddenly, in 
the dusk of the evening, a party disguised as Indians, and 



34 NAVAL HISTORY. [1773-74. 

which has been differently represented as composed of twenty- 
men up to eighty, appeared in the streets, marching swiftly in 
the direction of the wharves. It was followed by a mob, and 
proceeded to one of the tea-ships, which it boarded, and of 
which it took possession without resistance. The hatches were 
broken open, and the chests of tea were struck on deck, staved, 
and their contents were thrown into the water. The whole 
proceedings were conducted in the most orderly manner, and 
with little or no noise, the labourers seldom speaking. So 
much mystery attended this affair, that it is not easy, even at 
this remote day, to ascertain all the particulars ; and, although 
the names of the actors have been mentioned openly of late, 
for a long period apprehensions are said to have been enter- 
tained, by some engaged — men of wealth — that they might yet 
be made the subjects of a prosecution for damages, by the East 
India Company. Three hundred and forty-two chests of tea 
were destroyed, which was probably the cargo of a single ship, 
the two others quitting the port soon after. 

This daring act was followed by the Boston Port Bill, a po- 
litical measure that was equally high-handed, since it denied 
the people of the town all direct participation in commerce. 
This sudden check, at twenty days' notice, to the trade of -a 
place that, the previous year, had seen 411 clearances, and 
587 entries, to and from foreign ports, produced much distress 
in the town itself, and greater indignation throughout the coun- 
try. It had been the misfortune of England, never to under- 
stand the character of the people of the American colonies ; 
for, accustomed to dependencies that had been humbled by 
conquest, she had not yet learned to appreciate the spirit of 
those who were rapidly shooting up into political manhood by 
their own efforts, and who had only placed themselves in the 
situation they occupied, because they had found the liberty of 
England herself, insufficient for their opinions and wants. 

The people now began seriously to prepare for an appeal to 
force, and they profited by the liberty that was still left them, 
to organise military corps, with a view to recover that which 
they had lost. A Congress of representatives from the differ- 
ent colonies convened, and a system of organisation and con- 
cert was adopted, that served to unite as many as possible in 
the struggle that was fast approaching. 

Towards the close of the year 1774, various steps were 
taken in different parts of the country, that had a direct bear- 
ing on the civil war that was known to be at hand. Laws had 



1774.] NAVAL HISTORY. 35 

been passed in England prohibiting the exportation of arms 
and military supplies to America ; and the cannon and powder 
of the Crown were seized at various points, either by the local 
governments, or by private individuals. Twenty-six guns, of 
different calibres, were found on Fort Island and carried to 
Providence, and the people of Rhode Island are said to have 
got possession, in the whole, of quite forty guns, by these bold 
measures. At Portsmouth, New Hampshire, a body of 400 
men proceeded to the castle, at the harbour's mouth, kept the 
garrison in check, and breaking open the magazine, they car- 
ried off* one hundred barrels of powder. 

While means like these were used to obtain the necessary 
military equipments, provisions, as well as arms, were collect- 
ed in different parts of the country, in readiness for a cam- 
paign. Among other depots of this nature, one had been made 
at Concord, a small town at the distance of eighteen miles 
from Boston, and General Gage, who commanded the British 
forces in America, deemed it essential that it should be destroy- 
ed. A strong detachment was sent on this service, and it fell 
in with a small body of American minute-men at Lexington. 
These militia were dispersed by a volley, in which a few men 
were killed. This affair has always been considered the com- 
mencement of the War of the Revolution ; and justly, as the 
hostilities which were then commenced did not cease, until the 
Independence of the Colonies was acknowledged by Treaty. 
The British proceeded to Concord, where they effected their 
object, though not without resistance. The people now began 
to collect in force, and as soon as the British resumed their 
march, on the return to Boston, they were assailed by the 
former from behind the walls and fences. So vigorously were 
the troops pressed on this occasion, that it is thought they must 
have surrendered, had they not been met by a strong rein- 
forcement, commanded by Lord Percy, which enabled them 
to halt and recover their breath. As soon as the march was 
resumed, however, the provincials renewed the attack, and the 
British did not succeed in gaining a place of security, until 
they reached Charlestown neck. In this affair the loss of the 
Americans has been ascertained to have amounted to 50 killed, 
34 wounded, and 4 missing ; that of the British to 73 killed, 
174 wounded, and 26 prisoners. 

The intelligence of this important event circulated like a 
raging fire throughout the country, and it was everywhere 
received as a call to battle. Reserve was thrown aside ; the 



36 NAVAL HISTORY. [1775. 

population flew to arms, and the military stores of the Crown 
were seized wherever they could be found. An irregular body 
of 20,000 men appeared before Boston, with incredible rapid- 
ity, confining the royal army to the occupation of the town. 
With a view to reduce their enemies to still narrower limits, 
Breed's Hill, a height that commands the inner harbour of 
Boston, was seized, and a redoubt commenced. This step 
brought on the combat that has since been termed the Battle 
of Bunker's Hill, one of the most extraordinary conflicts of 
modern times, and which may be said to have given birth to 
American Independence. Washington was appointed Com- 
mander-in-Chief by the Congress of the United Colonies, and 
the war commenced under the usual laws of civilised nations, 
with the exception of the formality of a declaration. 



CHAPTER IV. 

The thirteen United Colonies possessed but scanty means 
to contend with a power like that of Britain. Their popula- 
tion was less than three millions, their pecuniary resources 
were of no great amount, and their military preparations in- 
significant. But the fire of true patriotism had been kindled, 
and that which in other nations is effected by means of labour- 
ed combinations and political management, the people of Ame- 
rica were bent on doing of their own voluntary motion and 
united efforts. The colonies of New England, in particular, 
which possessed a population trained to liberty ; hardy, sim- 
ple, ingenious and brave ; rose as it might be to a man ; and 
as this was the part of the country in which the flame broke 
out, thither we must first direct our attention in order to find 
the earliest evidences of its intensity. 

On the ocean, the preparations for the struggle were even 
smaller than those which had been made on the land. Con- 
gress had done nothing, and the provisions for naval defence 
which, from time to time, had existed among the different col- 
onies, had never amounted to more than maintaining a few 
guarda-costas, or to the temporary exertions of an expedition. 
As soon as the struggle commenced in earnest, however, the 



1775] NAVAL HISTORY. 37 

habits of the people, their aptitude for sea service, and the ad- 
vantages of both a public and a private nature, that were to 
be obtained from successful cruising, induced thousands to turn 
longing eyes to an element that promised so many flattering 
results. Nothing but the caution of Congress, which body was 
indisposed at first to act as if general warfare, instead of a 
redress of grievances, was its object, prevented a rushing to- 
wards the private cruisers, that would probably have given the 
commerce of England a heavier and more sudden blow, than 
it had ever yet received. But a different policy was pursued, 
and the orders to capture, first issued, were confined to vessels 
bringing stores and supplies to the British forces in America. 
It was as late as the 10th of Nov. 1775, before Massachusetts, 
the colony which was the seat of war, and which may be said 
to have taken the lead in the revolt, established courts of ad- 
miralty, and enacted laws for the encouragement of nautical 
enterprises. Washington followed this example by granting 
commissions to vessels to cruise in the vicinity of Boston, with 
the object already stated. But a due examination of the prac- 
tical measures of that day, will render it necessary to separate 
the subject into three branches ; viz. one that refers solely to 
the exertions of private, and frequently of unauthorized ad- 
ventures ; another that shall speak of the proceedings of the 
different colonies ; and a third, which more properly comprises 
the theme of this work, that shall refer to the policy pursued 
by Congress, in behalf of the entire nation. In making these 
distinctions, we shall be compelled to use brevity, as but few 
authorities now exist, and because the sameness and unimport- 
ance of many of the details deprive the subject of any interest 
beyond that which is connected with a proper understanding 
of the true condition of the country. 

The first nautical enterprise that succeeded the battle of 
Lexington, was one purely of private adventure. The intel- 
ligence of this conflict was brought to Machias in Maine, on 
Saturday, the 9th of May, 1775. An armed schooner in the 
service of the crown, called the Margaretta, was lying in port, 
with two sloops under her convoy, that were loading with lum- 
ber on behalf of the King's government. The bearers of the 
news were enjoined to be silent, a plan to capture the Marga- 
retta having been immediately projected among some of the 
more spirited of the inhabitants. The next day being Sunday, 
it was hoped that the officers of the schooner might be seized 
while in church, but the scheme failed in consequence of the 
4 



38 NAVAL HISTORY. [1775. 

precipitation of some engaged. Captain Moore, who com- 
manded the Margaretta, saw the assailants, and, with his offi- 
cers, escaped through the windows of the church to the shore, 
where they were protected by the guns of their vessel. The 
alarm was now taken, springs were got on the Margaretta's 
cables, and a few harmless shot were fired over the town, by 
way of intimidation. After a little delay, however, the schooner 
dropped down below the town, to a distance exceeding a league. 
Here she was followed, summoned to surrender, and fired on 
from a high bank, which her own shot could not reach. The 
Margaretta again weighed, and running into the bay, at the 
confluence of the two rivers, anchored. 

The following morning, which was Monday, the 11th of 
May, four young men took possession of one of the lumber 
sloops, and bringing her alongside of a wharf, they gave three 
cheers as a signal for volunteers. On explaining that their 
intentions were to make an attack on the Margaretta, a party 
of about thirty-five athletic men was soon collected. Arming 
themselves with fire-arms, pitchforks, and axes, and throwing 
a small stock of provisions into the sloop, these spirited free- 
men got under way, with a light breeze at northwest. When 
the Margaretta observed the approach of the sloop she weighed 
and crowded sail to avoid a conflict that was every way unde- 
sirable, her commander not yet being apprised of all the facts 
that had occurred near Boston. In jibing, the schooner car- 
ried away her main-boom, but continuing to stand on, she ran 
into Holmes's Bay, and took a spar out of a vessel that was 
lying there. While these repairs were making, the sloop hove 
in sight again, and the Margaretta stood out to sea, in the hope 
of avoiding her. The breeze freshened, and, with the wind 
on the quarter, the sloop proved to be the better sailer. So 
anxious was the Margaretta to avoid a collision, that Captain 
Moore now cut away his boats ; but finding this ineffectual, 
and that his assailants were fast closing with him, he opened 
a fire, the schooner having an armament of four light guns, 
and fourteen swivels. A man was killed on board the sloop, 
which immediately returned the fire with a wall piece. This 
discharge killed the man at the Margaretta's helm, and cleared 
her quarter-deck. The schooner broached to, when the sloop 
gave a general discharge. Almost at the same instant the two 
vessels came foul of each other. A short conflict now took 
place with musketry, Captain Moore throwing hand-grenades, 
with considerable effect, in person. This officer was shot 



1775.] NAVAL HISTORY. 39 

down, however, when the people of the sloop boarded and took 
possession of their prize. 

The loss of life in this affair was not very great, though 
twenty men, on both sides, are said to have been killed and 
wounded. The force of the Margaretta, even in men, was 
much the most considerable, though the people of no regular 
cruiser can ever equal in spirit and energy a body of volun- 
teers assembled on an occasion like this. There was origi- 
nally no commander in the sloop, but previously to engaging 
the schooner, Jeremiah O'Brien was selected for that station. 
This affair was the Lexington of the seas, for, like that cele- 
brated land conflict, it was a rising of the people against a 
regular force, was characterised by a long chase, a bloody 
struggle, and a triumph. It was also the first blow struck on 
the water, after the war of the American Revolution had ac- 
tually commenced. 

The armament of the Margaretta was transferred to a sloop, 
and Mr. O'Brien made an attack on two small English cruisers 
that were said to have been sent out from Halifax, expressly to 
capture him. By separating these vessels, he took them both, 
with little resistance, and the prisoners were all carried to 
Watertown, where the provincial legislature of Massachusetts 
was then assembled. The gallantry and good conduct of Mr. 
O'Brien were so generally admired, that he was immediately 
appointed a captain in the marine of the colony, and sent on 
the coast with his two last prizes, with orders to intercept ves- 
sels bringing supplies to the royal forces. 

Many adventures or enterprises, more or less resembling 
these of Captain O'Brien, took place on different parts of the 
coast, though none of so brilliant and successful a character. 
By way of retaliation, and with a view to intimidate, the Eng- 
lish commander-in-chief, Admiral Graves, sent a force under 
the orders of Captain Mowat, to destroy the town of Falmouth, 
and four hundred buildings were burned. An attempt to 
land, however, was repulsed, when the ships retired. This 
and similar steps produced the law of Massachusetts, already 
mentioned as having been passed in Nov. 1775, granting com- 
missions and directing the seizure of British vessels under cer- 
tain circumstances, and which consequently put an end to the 
expeditions we have classed among the unauthorised. 

The colony of Massachusetts had recourse to energetic mea- 
sures for annoying the enemy on the coast, and for procuring 
military supplies. Many small vessels were fitted out by that 



40 NAVAL HISTORY. 1.1775. 

as well as by other colonies, and ships were sent in different 
directions with a view to purchase stores. 

The want of powder, in particular, was so severely felt, that 
all practicable means were adopted to obtain it. Among others, 
General Washington borrowed two schooners of Massachusetts 
and sent them into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, under the orders 
of Captain Broughton, to intercept two brigs, that were known 
to be bound to Quebec with military supplies. The brigs 
were not seen, but ten other English vessels were captured by 
Captain Broughton, all of which were released as not coming 
within the hostilities meditated by Congress. 

That body, however, was by no means blind to the impor- 
tance of naval means of defence, without which no war can 
ever be conducted with credit and success by a country situ- 
ated like America; and we have now properly arrived at the 
period when it is necessary to advert to the acts and legislation 
of the General Government on this interesting subject. 

Soon after he assumed the command of the troops before 
Boston, General Washington, who so deeply felt the want of 
munitions of war, issued several commissions to different small 
vessels, giving their commanders instructions to cruise in or 
near Massachusetts Bay, in order to intercept the British store 
ships. 

The first vessel that got to sea under this arrangement, was 
the schooner Lee, Captain John Manly, which sailed from 
Marblehead near the close of November. On the 29th, Cap- 
tain Manly fell in with and captured the English brig Nancy, 
having on board ordnance stores, several brass guns, a consi- 
derable stock of fire-arms, and various military supplies. 
Among other things of this nature, was a large mortar, which 
was justly deemed an important addition to the means of a be- 
sieging army ; for, up to this time, the Americans before Bos- 
ton were particularly in want of artillery of every sort. On 
the 8th of December, Captain Manly captured three more 
store-ships, and succeeded in getting all his prizes safely into 
port. 

Although it may not be strictly true to term the Lee, and the 
other small cruisers similarly employed, the first vessels that 
ever belonged to the General Government of this country, they 
may be deemed the first that ever actually sailed with autho- 
rity to cruise in behalf of the entire republic. But, while we 
yield this precedency to Captain Manly and his associates, who 
acted under the orders of Washington, Congress itself had not 



1775.] NAVAL HISTORY. 41 

been altogether idle, and it is probable that the Commander-in- 
Chief took the step just mentioned in accordance with the ex- 
pressed views of that body. 

The first legislation of Congress on the subject of a navy, 
preceded the law of Massachusetts, in point of time, though the 
act was worded with great reserve. On the 13th of October, 
1775, a law passed ordering one vessel of 10 guns, and another 
of 1 4 guns to be equipped as national property, and to be sent 
to the eastward on a cruise of three months, to intercept sup- 
plies for the royal troops. On the 29th of the same month a 
resolution passed denying to private ships of war and mer- 
chant vessels the right to wear pennants in the presence of 
" continental ships, or vessels of war," without the permission 
of the commanding officers of the latter. The next day ano- 
ther law passed, authorising the fitting out of two more cruisers, 
one to carry 20, and the other 36 guns. 

A change in this cautious policy was produced by the depre- 
dations committed by the vessels under the command of Cap- 
tain Mowat. When the intelligence of that ruthless proceeding 
reached Philadelphia, it produced a general prize law, with au- 
thority to capture all British vessels that were in any manner 
connected with the pending struggle. As the country still ac- 
knowledged its connexion with the crown, perhaps this reserve 
in conducting the war, was, in a measure, due to sound policy. 
This law was followed by another, passed December 13th, 
ordering thirteen sail of cruisers, to be constructed. Of the 
latter vessels, three were to be of 24 guns, five of 28, and 
five of 32. 

These vessels appear to have been judiciously appointed in 
order to effect the object in view. The resources of America 
did not admit of the construction of ships of a size fit to con- 
tend with the fleets of England ; and even had the colonies been 
in a condition to make such an exhibition of their power, the 
time necessary to organise a proper marine, the want of navy 
yards, and the impossibility of procuring, in season, naval 
stores of the required quality, would have prevented them from 
attempting it. The ships ordered were large enough to resist 
the small cruisers of the crown, and were well adapted to de- 
stroy convoys and to capture transports and store-ships. 

Bad as was the condition of the colonies, as respects naval 

stores and the munitions of war, the country might be said to 

be even worse off for persons suited to form a navy list. 

There was no lack of competent navigators, or of brave sea- 

4 * 



42 NAVAL HISTORY. [1775. 

men, but the high moral qualities which are indispensable to 
the accomplished officer, were hardly to be expected among 
those who had received all their training in the rude and im- 
perfect schools of the merchant service. Still, as a whole, the 
merchant seamen of America were of a class superior to those 
of most other nations ; the very absence of a regular marine, 
which induced young men of enterprise to incur the dangers of 
the seas in this mode in preference to remaining on shore, and 
the moral superiority of the level of the population, producing 
such a result. The Committee of Congress, to which the 
duties of a Navy Department were assigned, was compelled, 
in consequence of these difficulties, to select the new corps of 
officers, principally, from such conspicuous persons among the 
masters and mates of merchant ships as the country afforded ; 
a few of those who had been trained in the English marine, 
but who had left it previously to the struggle, excepted. The 
result was such as might have been anticipated. While many 
gallant and suitable men were chosen, some of the corps had 
little to recommend them besides their practical knowledge of 
seamanship. These were valuable qualities, certainly; but the 
habits of subordination, the high feelings of personal pride and 
self-respect that create an esprit de corps, and the moral cou- 
rage and lofty sentiments that come in time, to teach the 
trained officer to believe any misfortune preferable to profes- 
sional disgrace, were not always to be expected under such 
circumstances. 

It has become impossible to establish, in all cases, who did 
and who did not actually serve in the marine of the United 
States, officers so frequently passing from the privateers into 
the public vessels, and from the public vessels to the privateers, 
as to leave this important branch of our subject involved in 
much obscurity. Before we enter more fully into the details 
on which reliance can be placed, it may be well, also, to ex- 
plain that the officers in the navy of the Confederation derived 
their authority from different sources, a circumstance that adds 
to the difficulties just mentioned. In a good many instances, 
Congress made the appointments by direct resolutions of its 
own, as will appear in the case of the officers first named. 
Subsequently, the Marine Committee possessed this power ; 
and, in the end, not only did the diplomatic agents of the Go- 
vernment abroad exercise this high trust, but even the com- 
manders of squadrons and of ships were put in possession of 
blank commissions to be filled at their particular discretion. 



1775.] NAVAL HISTORY. 43 

It will easily be understood how much this looseness in mana- 
ging an interest of so much moment, increases the difficulty of 
obtaining tbe truth. 

That the brave men who acted under the authority of 
Washington, at the commencement of the contest, were not in 
the navy, is evident from the circumstance that several of them 
obtained rank in the service, as the reward of their conduct 
while cruising in the sort of semi-official vessels that have been 
already mentioned. It has been said, that the first regular 
legislation of Congress, in reference to a marine, with a view 
to resist the aggressions of the British Parliament, dates from 
a resolution of that body passed the 13th of October, 1775. 
This resolution directed a committee of three, Messrs. Deane, 
Langdon and Gadsden, to fit out two swift-sailing vessels, the 
one of ten, and the other of fourteen guns, to cruise to the east- 
ward, to intercept the supplies and transports intended for the 
British army at Boston. Under this law it is believed that a 
brig called the Lexington, and a sloop named the Providence, 
were equipped ; though it does not appear that either went on 
the particular duty named in the resolution. On the 30th of 
the same month, the committee was increased to seven ; and a 
ship of 36 guns, and another of 20, were ordered to be provi- 
ded. Under this law, the Alfred and Columbus were pur- 
chased, though neither was of the force implied by the highest 
rate named. The first of these ships is said to have had a 
main-deck battery of 20 nines, while her armament on the 
quarter-deck and forecastle, varied in the course of her ser- 
vice, from ten guns to two. At the end of her career, she 
carried no guns above. Less is known of the Columbus, but 
she is believed to have had a gun-deck battery of 18 nines. 
Both were clumsy and crank ships, and neither proved to be 
a very good sailer. 

On the 13th of December, of the same year, Congress di- 
rected the thirteen ships of war to be built, and the next day 
the Marine Committee was so far increased as to contain one 
member from each colony ; all the proceedings that have yet 
been mentioned, having been directed rather to a redress of 
grievances, than to independence. 

On the 22d of December, 1775, Congress passed a resolu- 
tion declaring Esek Hopkins Commander-in-Chief, and ap- 
pointing officers for all the vessels then in service. 

By this law it will be seen that Mr. Hopkins was not made 
a captain, but the " Commander-in-Chief," a rank that was 



44 NAVAL HISTORY. [1775. 

intended to correspond in the navy, to that held by Washing- 
ton in the army. His official appellation, among seamen, ap- 
pears to have been that of " Commodore," though he was fre- 
quently styled " Admiral," in the papers of the period. The 
captains were particularly named to the respective ships, and 
the law was so construed, that the lieutenants were attached 
to the different vessels in the order in which they were re- 
spectively named. 

By this resolution, or law, it would appear that two brigs, 
the Andrea Doria, and the Cabot, had been purchased, most 
probably by the Marine Committee, previously to its passage. 
Of the precise force of the latter vessel no authentic account 
can be found, but it is thought to have been 16 sixes. It 
appears by a letter of Paul Jones, however, that the armament 
of the Doria was 14 fours, and the Cabot may have been of 
the same force. 

The equipment of all the vessels mentioned, as well as of 
two or three more of less size, was going on in the autumn 
of 1775, the appointment of their officers was made at the 
close of the year, and the first ensign ever shown by a regu- 
lar American man-of-war, was hoisted in the Delaware, on 
board the Alfred, by the hands of Paul Jones, some time about 
the last of December. This event could not have occurred 
previously to the vote appointing a commander-in-chief, as we 
are expressly told that the flag was shown when that officer 
first repaired on board his ship. What that ensign was, is not 
now certainly known, but it is thought to have been a device 
representing a pine tree, with a rattlesnake about to strike, 
coiled at its root, and bearing the motto " don't tread on me." 

The first regular cruisers that ever got to sea under the new 
government were the Hornet 10, and Wasp 8, a sloop and a 
schooner that had been equipped at Baltimore by the Marine 
Committee, and which sailed in November, to join the squad- 
ron under Commodore Hopkins, in the Delaware. This pas- 
sage, however, cannot properly be called a cruise. For the 
first of these we must probably refer to the Lexington 14, a 
brig, the command of which had been given to John Barry, a 
ship-master of Philadelphia, of credit and skill. By other 
statements, the squadron under the orders of Commodore Hop- 
kins got out before the Lexington ; but we are disposed to 
believe that this is an error ; not only because the sailing of 
the Lexington appears to be asserted on the most probable au- 
thority, but because it is more reasonable to believe, that, as 



1776.] NAVAL HISTORY. 45 

between vessels fitted in the same place, and near the same 
time, a single cruiser could precede a squadron. It would 
seem that the Lexington was purchased earlier than the Alfred, 
and, in the nature of things, was more readily equipped. The 
honour has long been claimed for Captain Barry, and, on as 
close an examination of the facts, as our means will allow, we 
believe it to be his due. The Lexington must have left the 
Capes of the Delaware late in January, or early in February, 
1776, with orders to cruise to the southward. 

The plans of Congress had changed between the time when 
the vessels were ordered and that on which they were ready 
for service. Commodore Hopkins was accordingly directed 
also to proceed to the southward, with a view to act against 
the naval force, which was then ravaging the coast of Vir- 
ginia, under Lord Dunmore. The squadron had got into the 
Bay, and rendezvoused under Cape Henlopen, early in Feb- 
ruary. It consisted of the Alfred 24, Columbus 20, Doria 14, 
Cabot 14, Providence 12, Hornet 10, Wasp 8, and Fly despatch 
vessel. With this force Commodore Hopkins got to sea on 
the 17th of February. On the night of the 19th, as the 
squadron was steering south with a fresh breeze, the Hornet 
and Fly parted company, and did not join again during the 
cruise. No vessel of any importance was met until the ships 
reached Abaco, in the Bahamas, where the squadron had been 
ordered to rendezvous. Here Commodore Hopkins determined 
to make a descent on New Providence, where it was under- 
stood a considerable amount of military stores was collected. 
For this purpose, a body of 300 men, marines and landsmen, 
under the command of Captain Nichols, the senior marine 
officer of the service, was put into two sloops, with the hope 
of surprising the place. As the squadron approached the 
town, however, an alarm was given, when the sloops were 
sent in, with the Providence 12, and Wasp 8, to cover the 
landing. This duty was handsomely performed, and Captain 
Nichols got complete possession of the forts, and entire com- 
mand of the place, in the course of the afternoon and of the 
following morning, after a very insignificant resistance. Un- 
fortunately, the governor, aware of the motive of the descent, 
found means to send away a considerable quantity of powder 
during the night. Near a hundred cannon, and a large quan- 
tity of other stores, however, fell into the hands of the Ame- 
ricans. On this occasion, the first that ever occurred in the 
regular American Navy, the marines under Captain Nichols, 



46 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776. 

appear to have behaved with a spirit and steadiness that have 
distinguished the corps, from that hour down to the present 
moment. 

After retaining possession a few days, Commodore Hopkins 
left New Providence on the 17th of March, bringing away with 
him the governor and one or two men of note, and shaping his 
course to the northward. Some of the smaller vessels appear 
to have left him, as he proceeded along the coast, but, with 
most of his force in company, he arrived off the east end of 
Long Island, early in April. On the 4th, he captured a tender 
of six guns, commanded by a son of Commodore Wallace, and 
on the 5th he fell in with and took the British Bomb Brig Bol- 
ton, 8, Lieutenant Snead. 

About one o'clock in the morning of the 6th of April, the 
squadron being a little scattered, a large ship was discovered 
steering towards the Alfred. The wind was light, and the sea 
quite smooth ; and about two, the stranger having gone about, 
the Cabot closed with him, and hailed. Soon after the latter 
fired a broadside. The first discharge of this little vessel ap- 
pears to have been well directed, but her metal was altogether 
too light to contend with an enemy like the one she had as- 
sailed. In a faw minutes she was compelled to haul aboard 
her tacks, to get from under the guns of her antagonist, having 
had her captain severely wounded, her master killed, and a 
good many of her people injured. 

The Alfred now took the place of the Cabot, ranging hand- 
somely alongside of the enemy and delivering her fire. Soon 
after, the Providence got under the stern of the English ship, 
and the Andrea Doria was enabled to come near enough to do 
some service. The Columbus was kept at a distance for want 
of wind. After a smart cannonade of near an hour, the block 
and wheel-rope of the Alfred were shot away, and the ship 
broached to ; by which accident the enemy was enabled to rake 
her with effect. Being satisfied, however, that victory was 
impossible, the English commander profited by this accident, 
to put his helm up, and brought all the American vessels 
astern. Sailing better than any of the squadron, most of which 
were deep, as well as dull, in consequence of the cannon and 
stores they had taken on board, the enemy slowly but steadily 
gained on his pursuers, though a warm cannonade was kept 
up by both parties until past daylight. By six o'clock the 
ships had got so far to the eastward, that Commodore Hopkins 
felt apprehensive the firing would bring out the Newport 



1776.] naval history. 47 

squadron ; and seeing little chance of overtaking the chase, he 
made a signal for his vessels to haul by the wind. Capturing 
a tender that was in company with the ship that had escaped, 
the squadron now went into New London, the port to which it 
was bound. 

The vessel that engaged the American ships, on this occa- 
sion, was the Glasgow, 20, Captain Tyringham Howe, with a 
crew of about one hundred and fifty souls. In every thing but 
the number of her men, the Glasgow was probably superior to 
any one ship in the American squadron ; but her close encounter 
with, and eventual escape from so many vessels, reflected 
great credit on her commander. She was a good deal cut up, 
notwithstanding, and had four men killed and wounded. On 
the other hand, both the Alfred and the Cabot suffered materi- 
ally, the former from having been raked, and the latter from 
lying close alongside a vessel so much her superior in force. 
The Alfred and Cabot had twenty-three men killed and 
wounded, and one man on board the Columbus lost an arm 
while in chase. 

The result of this first essay of the American navy, caused 
much exultation in the country. The affair was represented 
as a sort of victory, in which three light vessels of war had 
been taken, and one of force compelled to run. A short time, 
however, served to correct these errors, and public opinion 
probably went as far in the opposite extreme, where it would 
seem to have been permanently fixed, by subsequent histo- 
rians. 

Commodore Hopkins was left in command some time longer, 
it is true, and he carried the squadron to Rhode Island, a few 
weeks after his arrival, but he never made another cruise in 
the navy. On the 16th of October, Congress passed a vote of 
censure on him, for not performing the duties on which he had 
been sent to the southward ; and on the 2d of January, 1777, 
by a vote of that body, he was formally dismissed from the 
service. No commander-in-chief was subsequently appointed, 
though such a measure was recommended to the national 
legislature by a committee of its own body, August 24th, 1781. 

As an offset to the escape of the Glasgow, the Lexington, 
Captain Barry, fell in with the Edward, an armed tender of 
the Liverpool, on the 17th of April, off the Capes of Virginia, 
and after a close and spirited action of near an hour, captured 
her. The Lexington had four of her crew killed and wounded, 



48 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776. 

while the Edward was cut nearly to pieces, and met with a 
very heavy comparative loss in men. 

It may better connect the history of this little brig, if we 
add here, that she went to the West-Indies the following Octo- 
ber, under the command of Captain Halleck, and on her return 
was captured near the spot where she had taken the Liverpool's 
tender, by the Pearl frigate. It was blowing fresh at the time, 
and, after taking out a few officers, and putting a crew on 
board his prize, the commander of the Pearl ordered her to 
follow his own ship. That night the Americans rose, and 
overpowering the prize-crew, they carried the brig into Balti- 
more. The Lexington was immediately recommissioned, 
under the orders of Captain Johnston, and in March she sailed 
for Europe, where there will soon be occasion to note her 
movements. 



CHAPTER V. 

When the American squadron had got into Newport, it be- 
came useless, from want of men. Many of the seamen had 
entered for the cruise only, and Congress having authorised 
the capture of all British vessels in March, so many persons 
were now induced to go on board the privateers, that crews 
were not easily obtained for the vessels of war. It is a singular 
feature of the times, too, that the sudden check to navigation, 
and the delay in authorising general captures, had driveu a 
great many of the seamen into the army. It is also easy to 
imagine that the service was out of favour, after the affair with 
the Glasgow ; for by events as trifling as this, are the opinions 
of ordinary men usually influenced. 

It has been said that the vessels were carried to Providence, 
Rhode Island, and soldiers were borrowed from the army, in 
order to effect even this. At Providence, courts-martial, the 
usual attendants of military misfortunes, were assembled to 
judge the delinquents. Captain Whipple, of the Columbus, 
was tried for not aiding the Alfred in the action with the Glas- 
gow, and seems to have been acquitted. Captain Hazard, of 



1776.] NAVAL HISTORY. 49 

the Providence, was cashiered, though it does not appear on 
what charge. 

The day after the dismissal of her former commander, or 
May the 10th, 1776, Paul Jones was directed by Commodore 
Hopkins to take charge of the Providence, and to carry the 
borrowed soldiers to New York, there to enlist a regular crew, 
and return to the station. This duty having been successfully 
performed, the sloop was hove out, cleaned, refitted, armed, 
and manned for a cruise. On the 13th of June, Captain Jones 
sailed from Newport, with a convoy loaded with military stores, 
which he saw into Long Island Sound, a service attended with 
risk, on account of the numerous cruisers of the enemy. While 
thus employed, he covered the escape of a brig from St. Do- 
mingo, laden also with military stores, and bound to New 
York. This brig was soon after bought into the service, and 
became the Hampden 14. After performing this duty, the 
Providence was employed in cruising between Boston and the 
Delaware, and she even ran as far south as Bermuda. On the 
1st of September, while on the latter service, this little sloop 
made five sail, one of which was mistaken for a large mer- 
chantman. On getting near the latter vessel, she proved to be 
a light English frigate, and a fast sailer. After a chase of four 
hours by the wind, and in a cross sea, the enemy had so far 
gained on the Providence as to be within musket-shot, on her 
lee-quarter. The stranger had early opened with his chase 
guns, and the Providence now returned the fire with her light 
four-pounders, showing her colours. Perceiving that capture, 
or some bold expedient, must soon determine his fate, Captain 
Jones kept edging away, until he had got rather on the lee- 
bow of the enemy, when the Providence suddenly went off 
dead before the wind, setting every thing that would draw. 
This unexpected manoeuvre brought the two vessels within 
pistol-shot, but the English ship having been taken completely 
by surprise, before she could get her light sails set, the sloop 
was nearly out of reach of grape. The Providence sailed the 
best before the wind, and in less than an hour she had drawn 
quite beyond the reach of shot, and finally escaped. This 
affair has been represented as an engagement of several hours 
with the Solebay 28, but, as has been said, it was little more 
than a clever artifice, in which Captain Jones discovered much 
steadiness and address. Not a shot touched the Providence, 
though the Solebay fired a hundred. 

Captain Jones now went to the eastward, where he made 
5 



50 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776. 

several prizes. Here he was chased by the Mil lord 32, and 
finding he could easily outsail her, he kept just out of gunshot 
for several hours, the enemy, who measured his distance badly, 
firing, most of the time. This affair has also been exaggerated 
into a running fight. 

After this chase the Providence went upon the coast, off 
Canseau, and did much damage to the enemy's fishermen, 
taking no less than twelve sail. Having made sixteen prizes 
in all, some of which were valuable, Captain Jones returned to 
Newport. 

Ere the return of the Providence, independence was declared, 
and Congress had set about a more regular organisation of the 
navy. October the 3d, it ordei'ed another frigate and two cut- 
ters to be built ; and November the 9th, a law was passed, 
authorising the construction of three seventy-fours, five more 
frigates, a sloop of war, and a packet. In January of the suc- 
ceeding year, another frigate and another sloop of war were 
ordered. Eight of the prizes were also directed to be taken 
into the service, in the course of the years 1776 and 1777, 
while, as the war proceeded, divers small vessels were directed 
to be built, or purchased. 

When the squadron, under Commodore Hopkins, broke up, 
all the ships did not remain idle, but the Columbus 20, made 
a cruise, under Captain Whipple, to the eastward, and took a 
kw prizes. The Andrea Doria 14, Captain Biddle, went in 
the same direction, and was even more successful than the 
Providence in annoying the enemy. This vessel, a little brig, 
carrying 14 fours, actually took two armed transports filled with 
soldiers, and made prizes of so many merchantmen, that, it is 
affirmed on plausible authority, when she got back into the 
Delaware, but five of the common men who composed her 
original crew were in her ; the rest having been put in the 
prizes, and their places supplied by volunteers from among 
the prisoners. Captain Biddle gained much credit for this 
cruise, and he was appointed to the command of the Randolph 
32, then recently launched. 

While the United States' cruisers were thus active in inter- 
cepting the British transports on the high seas, the colony 
cruisers and privateers were busy in the same way in-shore. 
Boston had been evacuated by the enemy on the 17th of 
March, of this year, but vessels Continued to arrive from Eng- 
land until midsummer ; the fact not being known in time to 
prevent their steering towards the wrong port. No less than. 



1776.] NAVAL HISTORY. 51 

thirty sail fell into the hands of the Americans, in conse- 
quence of these mistakes. 

The Connecticut colony brig Defence 14, Captain Harding, 
left Plymouth, Massachusetts, early on the morning of the 
17th of June, and, on working out into the bay, a desultory 
firing was heard to the northward. The Defence crowded 
sail in the direction of the cannonading, and about dusk she 
fell in with four light American schooners, which had been en- 
gaged in a running fight with two British transports, that 
proved too heavy for them. The transports, after beating off 
the schooners, went into Nantasket Roads and anchored. 
One of the schooners was the Lee 8, Captain Waters, in the 
service of Massachusetts, the little cruiser that had so success- 
fully begun the maritime warfare under Captain Manly. The 
three others were privateers. 

After laying his plans with the commanders of the schooners, 
Captain Harding stood into the roads, and, about eleven 
o'clock at night, he anchored between the transports, within 
pistol-shot. The schooners followed, but did not approach 
near enough to be of much service. Some hailing now passed, 
and Captain Harding ordered the enemy to strike. A voice 
from the largest English vessel answered, " Ay, ay — I'll 
strike," and a broadside was immediately poured into the De- 
fence. A sharp action, that lasted more than an hour, fol- 
lowed, when both the English vessels struck. These trans- 
ports contained near two hundred soldiers of the same corps 
as those shortly after taken by the Doria, and on board the 
largest of them was Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, who com- 
manded the regiment. 

In this close and sharp conflict, the Defence was a good 
deal cut up aloft, and she had nine men wounded. The 
transports lost eighteen killed and a large number wounded. 
Among the slain was Major Menzies, the officer who had 
answered the hail in the manner stated. 

The next morning the Defence, with the schooners in com- 
pany, saw a sail in the bay, and gave chase. The stranger 
proved to be another transport, with more than a hundred men 
of the same regiment on board. Thus did about five hundred 
men, of one of the best corps in the British army, fall into the 
hands of the Americans, by means of these light cruisers. It 
should be remembered that, in this stage of the war, every 
capture of this nature was of double importance to the cause, 
as it not only weakened the enemy, but checked his intention 



52 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776. 

of treating the American prisoners as rebels, by giving the 
colonists the means of retaliation, as well as of exchange. 
Colonel Campbell was subsequently imprisoned by Washing- 
ton, to compel the English to extend better treatment to the 
Americans who had fallen into their hands. 

To return to the vessels left at Rhode Island. When Cap- 
tain Jones came in from his last cruise in the Providence, a 
project was formed to send a small squadron under his orders 
to the coast of Nova Scotia, with the double view of distressing 
the British trade, and of liberating about a hundred Americans 
who were said to be confined in the coal-pits of that region. 
For this purpose the Alfred 24, Hampden 14, and Providence 
12, were put under the orders of Captain Jones ; but not hav- 
ing men enough for all three, that officer selected the two first 
for his purpose. While clearing the port, the Hampden got on 
a ledge of rocks, and sustained material damage. The crew 
of the Hampden were now transferred to the Providence, and 
in the month of November Captain Jones got to sea, with both 
vessels rather short manned. A few days out, the Alfred 
made one or two small captures, and soon after she fell in with, 
and, after a short combat, took the armed ship Mellish, loaded 
with supplies for the army that was then assembling in Cana- 
da, to compose the expedition under General Burgoyne. On 
board this vessel, in addition to many other articles of the last 
importance, were ten thousand suits of uniform, in charge of a 
company of soldiers. It was said at the time, that the Mellish 
was the most valuable English ship that had then fallen into 
the hands of the Americans. Of so much importance did Cap- 
tain Jones consider his prize, that he announced his intention 
to keep her in sight, and to sink her in preference to letting 
her fall into the enemy's hands again. This resolution, how- 
ever, was changed by circumstances. 

The Providence had parted company in the night, and hav- 
ing taken a letter of marque from Liverpool, the Alfred was 
making the best of her way to Boston, with a view to get the 
Mellish in, when, on the edge of George's Banks, she made the 
Milford 32, the frigate that had chased Captain Jones the pre- 
vious cruise, while in command of the Providence. The ene- 
my was to windward, but there was not time for him to close 
before dark. The Alfred and the letter of marque hauled up 
between the frigate and the other prizes, in order to cover them, 
and directions were given to the latter to stand on the same 
tack all night, regardless of signals. At midnight the Alfred 



1776.] NAVAL HISTORY. 53 

and letter of marque tacked, and the latter showed a top-light 
until morning. This artifice succeeded, the Milford appearing 
in chase of the Alfred when the day dawned, while the Mellish 
and her consorts had disappeared in the southern board. 

The Milford had run to leeward in the course of the night, 
and was now on the Alfred's lee quarter. Some manoeuvring 
took place to ascertain the stranger's force, for it was not then 
known that the ship in sight was actually a frigate. In the 
course of the day, the Alfred was compelled to carry sail hard, 
but she escaped, though the letter of marque fell into the ene- 
my's hands. After eluding her enemy, and covering all her 
prizes, the one just mentioned excepted, the Alfred went into 
Boston, where she found the rest of the vessels, and where she 
landed her prisoners. Another officer took charge of the ship, 
and Captain Jones, who had been flattered with the hope of 
having a still larger force put under his orders, was placed so 
low on the list by the new regulation of navy rank, as to be 
obliged to look round for a single ship, and that, too, of a force 
inferior to the one he had just commanded. 

While this service was in the course of execution at the 
north, several small cruisers had been sent into the West In- 
dies, to convoy, in quest of arms, or to communicate with the 
different public agents in that quarter. We have seen the man- 
ner in which the Lexington had been captured and retaken on 
her return passage from this station, and we have now to al- 
lude to a short cruise of the Reprisal, Captain Wickes, in the 
same quarter. This ship sailed early in the summer, for Mar- 
tinique, capturing several prizes by the way. When near her 
port, the English sloop of war Shark 16, Captain Chapman, 
laid her close alongside, and commenced a brisk attack, the 
Reprisal being both lighter than the enemy, and short-handed. 
Captain Wickes made so gallant a defence, however, that the 
Shark was repulsed with loss, and the American got into the 
island with credit, hundreds having witnessed the affair from 
the shore. As this occurred early in the season, and before 
the Declaration of Independence, the Shark followed the Re- 
prisal in, and her captain demanded that the governor should 
deliver up the American ship as a pirate. This demand was 
refused of course, and shortly after Captain Wickes returned 
home. With a view to connect the train of events, we will 
now follow this excellent officer to the European seas. 

The Reprisal was the first American man-of-war that ever 
showed herself in the other hemisphere. She sailed from home 
5 * 



54 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776. 

not long after the Declaration of Independence, and appeared 
in France in the autumn of 1776, bringing in with her several 
prizes, and having Dr. Franklin on board as a passenger. A 
few privateers had preceded her, and slight difficulties had oc- 
curred in relation to some of their prizes that had gone into 
Spain, but it is believed these were the first English captured 
ships that had entered France since the commencement of the 
American Revolution. The English ambassador complained 
of this infraction of the treaty between the two countries, but 
means were found to dispose of the prizes without detection. 
The Reprisal having refitted, soon sailed towards the bay of 
Biscay, on another cruise. Here she captured several more 
vessels, and among the rest a king's packet that plied between 
Falmouth and Lisbon. When the cruise was up, Captain 
Wickes went into Nantes, taking his prizes with him. The 
complaints of the English now became louder, and the Ameri- 
can commissioners were secretly admonished of the necessity 
of using greater reserve. The prizes were directed to quit 
France, though the Reprisal, being leaky, was suffei'ed to re- 
main in port, in order to refit. The former were taken into 
the offing, and sold ; the state of the times rendering these in- 
formal proceedings necessary. Enormous losses to the cap- 
tors were the consequences, while it is not improbable that the 
gains of the purchasers had their influence in blinding the lo- 
cal authorities to the character of the transaction. The busi- 
ness appears to have been managed with dexterity, and the 
proceeds of the sales, such as they were, proved of great ser- 
vice to the agents of government, by enabling them to pur- 
chase other vessels. 

In April the Lexington 14, Captain Johnston, arrived in 
France, and the old difficulties were renewed. But the com- 
missioners at Paris, who had been authorised to equip vessels, 
appoint officers and do other matters to annoy the enemy, now 
planned a cruise that surpassed any thing of the sort that had 
yet been attempted in Europe under the American flag. Cap- 
tain Wickes was directed to proceed to sea, with his own ves- 
sel and the Lexington, and to go directly off* Ireland, in order 
to intercept a convoy of linen ships that was expected to sail 
about that time. A cutter of ten guns, called the Dolphin, 
that had been procured by the commissioners to carry des- 
patches to America, was diverted from her original destination 
and placed under the orders of Captain Wickes. The Dol- 
phin was commanded by Lieutenant S. Nicholson, a brother 



1777.] NAVAL HISTORY. DD 

of the senior captain, and a gentleman who subsequently died 
himself at the head of the service. 

Captain Wickes, in command of this light squadron, sailed 
from Nantes about the commencement of June, going first into 
the Bay of Biscay, and afterwards entirely around Ireland, 
sweeping the sea before him of every thing that was not of a 
force to render an attack hopeless. The linen ships were 
missed, but many vessels were taken or destroyed. As the 
American cruisers approached the French coast, on their re- 
turn, a line of battle ship gave chase, and followed them nearly 
into port. The Lexington and Dolphin appear to have escaped 
without much difficulty, by separating ; but the Reprisal was 
so hard pressed, as to be obliged to saw her bulwarks, and 
even to cut away some of her timbers ; expedients that were 
much in favour among the seamen of the day, though of ques- 
tionable utility. 

This was the first exploit of the kind in the war, and its 
boldness and success seem to have produced so much sensa- 
tion in England, that the French government was driven to 
the necessity of entirely throwing aside the mask, or of tak- 
ing some more decided step in relation to these cruisers. Not 
being yet prepared for war, it resorted to the latter expedient. 
The Reprisal and Lexington were ordered to be seized, and 
held until security was given that they would quit the Euro- 
pean seas, while the prizes were commanded to leave France 
without delay. The latter were accordingly taken outside the 
port, and disposed of to French merchants, in the same in- 
formal manner, and with the same loss, as in the previous 
cases, while the vessels of war prepared to return home. 

In September the Lexington sailed from Morlaix, in which 
port she had taken refuge in the chase, and next day she fell 
in with the British man-of-war-cutter Alert, Lieutenant Bazely, 
a vessel of a force a trifle less than her own, when an engage- 
ment took place. The lightness of the vessels, and the rough- 
ness of the water, rendered the fire on both sides very ineffec- 
tive ; and after an action of two hours and a half, the Lexing- 
ton had expended nearly all her powder, without subduing her 
gallant opponent. The Alert, however, had suffered so much 
aloft, as to enable the brig to leave her. Notwithstanding this 
advantage, so much activity was shown on board the English 
vessel, that, after a chase of four hours, she was enabled to 
get alongside of the Lexington again, while the latter was her- 
self repairing damages. A one-sided battle now occurred, the 



56 NAVAL HISTORY. [1777. 

Lexington not having it in her power to keep up a fire of any 
moment, and after receiving that of his persevering antago- 
nist for another hour, Captain Johnston was compelled to 
strike, to save the lives of his crew. 

The fate of the Reprisal, a vessel that had even been more 
successful than her consort, was still harder. This ship also 
sailed for America, agreeably to the conditions made with the 
French government, and foundered on the banks of Newfound- 
land, all on board perishing with the exception of the cook. 
In Captain Wickes the country lost a gallant, prudent, and 
efficient officer, and one who promised to rise high in the pro- 
fession had his life been spared. 

To the untimely loss of the Reprisal, and the unfortunate 
capture of the Lexington, must be attributed the little eclat 
that attended the services of these two vessels in Europe. They 
not only preceded all the other national cruisers in the Euro- 
pean seas, but they did great positive injury to the commerce 
of the enemy, besides exciting such a feeling of insecurity in 
the English merchants, as to derange their plans, and to pro- 
duce other revolutions in the course of trade, that will be ad- 
verted to in the close of the chapter. 

While the commissioners* were directing the movements of 
Captain Wickes, in the manner that has been mentioned, they 
were not idle in other quarters. A small frigate was building 
at Nantes, on public account, and there will be occasion here- 
after to speak of her services and loss, under the name of the 
Queen of France. Some time in the spring of 1777, an agent 
was sent to Dover by the American commissioners, where he 
purchased a fine, fast-sailing English-built cutter, and had her 
carried across to Dunkirk. Here she was privately equipped 
as a cruiser, and named the Surprise. To the command of 
this vessel Captain Gustavus Conyngham was appointed, by 
filling up a blank commission from John Hancock, the Pres- 
ident of Congress. This commission bore date March 1st, 
1777, and it would seem, as fully entitled Mr. Conyngham to 
the rank of a captain in the navy, as any other that was ever 
issued by the same authority. Having obtained his officers 
and crew in Dunkirk, Captain Conyngham sailed on a cruise, 
about the 1st of May, and on the 4th he took a brig called the 
Joseph. On the 7th, when within a few leagues of the coast 
of Holland, the Surprise ran alongside of the Harwich packet, 

* Dr. Franklin and Silas Deane. 



1777.] NAVAL HISTORY. 57 

the Prince of Orange, which she boarded and took with so lit- 
tle previous alarm, that Captain Conyngham, stepping upon 
the deck of his prize, walked coolly down into her cabin, 
where he found her master and his passengers at breakfast. 
The mail for the north of Europe being on board the Prince 
of Orange, Captain Conyngham believed his acquisition to be 
of sufficient importance to return to port, and accordingly re- 
appeared at Dunkirk in a day or two. 

By referring to the dates, it will be seen, though both the 
Reprisal and the Lexington, especially the first, had cruised 
in the European seas prior to the sailing of the Surprise, that 
the latter vessel performed the exploit just mentioned, shortly 
before Captain Wickes sailed on his cruise in the Irish and 
English Channels. Coming as it did so soon after the cap- 
ture of the Lisbon packet, and occurring on one of the great 
thoroughfares between England and the continent, coupled 
with the fact that the cutter had been altogether equipped in a 
French port, the loss of the Prince of Orange appears to have 
attracted more attention than the transactions before described. 
The remonstrances of the English ambassador were so earn- 
est, that Captain Conyngham and his crew were imprisoned, 
the cutter was seized, and the prizes were liberated. On this 
occasion the commission of Captain Conyngham was taken 
from him, and sent to Versailles, and it seems never to have 
been returned. 

So completely was the English government deceived by this 
demonstration of an intention on the part of the French min- 
istry to cause the treaty to be respected, that two sloops of 
war were actually sent to Dunkirk to carry Captain Conyng- 
ham and his people to England, that they might be tried as 
pirates. When the ships reached Dunkirk, as will be seen in 
the succeeding events, the birds had flown. 

The commissioners had in view the capture of some of 
the transports with Hessian troops on board, and they were 
no sooner notified of the seizure of the Surprise, than Mr. 
Hodge, an agent who was of great service to the cause, was 
directed to procure another cutter. One was accordingly pur- 
chased at Dunkirk, and fitted, with all despatch, for a cruise. 
Means were found to liberate Captain Conyngham and his peo- 
ple, and this second vessel, which was called the Revenge, 
sailed from Dunkirk on the 18th of July, or about the time 
that Captain Wickes returned from his cruise with the three 
other vessels. A new commission had been obtained for Cap- 



58 NAVAL HISTORY. [1777. 

tain Conyngham, previously to putting to sea, which bore date 
May 2d, 1777. As this second commission was dated ante- 
rior to the seizure of the old one, there is no question that it 
was also one of those in blank, which had been confided to 
the commissioners to fill at their discretion. 

The Revenge proved exceedingly successful, making prizes 
daily, and generally destroying them. Some of the most valu- 
able, however, were ordered into Spain, where many arrived ; 
their avails proving of great moment to the agents of the Ame- 
rican government in Europe. It is even affirmed that the mo- 
ney advanced to Mr. Adams for travelling expenses, when he 
landed in Spain from the French frigate La Sensible, a year 
or two later, was derived from this source. 

Having suffered from a gale, Captain Conyngham disguised 
the Revenge, and took her into one of the small English ports, 
where he actually refitted without detection. Shortly after, he 
obtained supplies in Ireland, paying for them by bills on his 
agents in Spain. In short, after a cruise of almost unprece- 
dented success, so far as injury to the English merchants was 
concerned, the Revenge went into Ferrol, refitted, and finally 
sailed for the American seas, where it would derange the or- 
der of events to follow her at this moment. 

The sensation created among the British merchants, by 
the different cruises in the European seas, that have been 
recorded in this chapter, is stated in the diplomatic correspond- 
ence of the day, to have been greater than that produced, in 
the previous war, by the squadron of the celebrated Thurot. 
Insurance rose to an enormous height, and, in speaking of the 
cruise of Captain Wickes in particular, Mr. Deane observes 
in one of his letters to Robert Morris, that it " effectually 
alarmed England, prevented the great fair at Chester, occa- 
sioned insurance to rise, and even deterred the English mer- 
chants from shipping goods in English bottoms, at any rate, 
so that in a few weeks, forty sail of French ships were load- 
ing in the Thames on freight ; an instance never before 
known." In the same letter, this commissioner adds, — " In a 
word, Cunningham (Conyngham) by his first and second bold 
expeditions, is become the terror of all the eastern coast of 
England and Scotland, and is more dreaded than Thurot was, 
in the late war." 

Insurance, in some instances, rose as high as twenty-five 
per cent., and it is even affirmed that there was a short period 



1776.] NAVAL HISTORY. 59 

when ten per cent, was asked between Dover and Calais, a 
distance of only seven leagues. 

With a view to increase the naval force of the country, the 
commissioners had caused a frigate of extraordinary size, and 
of peculiar armament and construction for that period, to be 
laid down at Amsterdam. This ship had the keel and sides 
of a two-decker, though frigate-built, and her main deck arma- 
ment was intended to consist of thirty-two pounders. Her 
name was the Indien. In consequence of the apprehen- 
sions of the Dutch government, and the jealousy of that of 
England, Congress was induced, about this time, to make an 
offering of the Indien to Louis XVI., and she was equipped 
and got ready for sea, as a French vessel of war. In the end, 
the manner in which this frigate was brought into the service 
of one of the new American States, will be shown. 



CHAPTER VI. 

It is now necessary to revert to events that will require the 
time to be carried back more than a twelvemonth. 

Soon after the British left Boston, a Captain Mugford ob- 
tained the use of a small armed vessel belonging to govern- 
ment, called the Franklin, and getting to sea, he succeeded in 
capturing the Hope, a ship that had on board fifteen hundred 
barrels of powder, and a large quantity of intrenching tools, 
gun-carriages, and other stores. This vessel was got into 
Boston, in sight of the British squadron. Attempting another 
cruise immediately afterwards, Captain Mugford lost his life 
in making a gallant and successful effort to repel some of the 
enemy's boats, which had endeavoured to carry the Franklin 
and a small privateer that was in company, by boarding. 

On the 6th of July, or two days after the Declaration of 
Independence, the Sachem 10, Captain Robinson, sailed from 
the Delaware on a cruise. The Sachem was sloop-rigged, 
and one of the lightest cruisers in the service. When a few 
days out she fell in with an English letter of marque, a Ja- 
maica-man, and captured her, after a sharp contest. Both 
vessels are said to have suffered severely in this affair, and to 



60 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776. 

have had an unusual number of their people killed and wounded. 
Captain Robinson was now compelled to return to refit, and 
arriving at Philadelphia with his prize, the Marine Committee 
rewarded him for his success by giving him the command of 
the Andrea Doria 14, then recently returned from her cruise 
to the eastward under Captain Biddle, which officer had been 
transferred to the Randolph 32. 

The Doria sailed shortly after for St. Eustatia, to bring 
home some arms ; and it is said that the first salute ever paid 
to the American flag, by a regular government, was fired in 
return for the salute of the Doria, when she went into that 
island. For this indiscretion the Dutch governor was subse- 
quently displaced. 

On her return passage, off the western end of Porto Rico, 
the Doria made an English vessel of war, bearing down upon 
her with a disposition to engage. On ranging up abeam, the 
enemy commenced the action by firing a broadside, which was 
immediately returned by the Doria. A very sharp contest of 
two hours followed, when the Englishman struck. The prize 
proved to be the Racehorse 12, Lieutenant Jones, who had 
been sent by his admiral to cruise expressly for the Doria. 
Lieutenant Jones was mortally wounded, and a very large pro- 
portion of the Racehorse's officers and crew were either killed 
or wounded. The Doria lost twelve men, including all the 
casualties. Captain Robinson and his prize got safely into 
Philadelphia, in due season. The Doria never went to sea 
again, being shortly after burned by the Americans to prevent 
her falling into the hands of the British fleet, when the evacu- 
ation of Fort Mifflin gave the enemy the command of the 
Delaware. 

The galleys in the Delaware had a long and well-contested 
struggle with the Roebuck, 44, Captain Hammond, and the 
Liverpool, 20, Captain Bellew, about the first of May of this 
year. The cannonade was handsomely conducted, and it re- 
sulted in driving the enemy from the river. During this affair, 
the Wasp, 8, Captain Alexander, was active and conspicuous, 
cutting out a tender of the English ships from under their 
guns. 

A spirited attack was also made on the Phoenix, 44, and 
Rose, 24, in the Hudson, on the third of August, by six 
American galleys. The firing was heavy and well maintained 
for two hours, both sides suffering materially. On the part 
of the galleys, eighteen men were killed and wounded, and 



1776.] NAVAL II 1 S T O II Y . 61 

several guns were dismounted by shot. The loss of the 
enemy is not known, though both vessels were repeatedly 
hulled. 

By this time the whole coast was alive with adventures of 
such a nature, scarcely a week passing that did not give rise 
to some incident that would have interest for the reader, did 
the limits of our work permit us to enter into the details. 
Wherever an enemy's cruiser appeared, or attempted to land, 
skirmishes ensued ; and in some of these little affairs as much 
personal gallantry and ingenuity were displayed as in many 
of the more important combats. The coast of New England 
generally, the Chesapeake, and the coast of the Carolinas, 
were the scenes of most of these minor exploits, which, like all 
the subordinate incidents of a great struggle, are gradually 
becoming lost in the more engrossing events of the war. 

October 12th, of this year, an armed British brig, the name 
of which has been lost, fitted out by the government of the 
Island of Jamaica, made an attempt on a small convoy of 
American vessels, off Cape Nicola Mole, in the West-Indies, 
then in charge of the privateer Ranger, 18, Captain Hudson. 
Perceiving the aim of the enemy, Captain Hudson ran under 
her stern, and gave her a severe raking fire. The action thus 
commenced, lasted nearly two hours, when the Ranger 
boarded, and carried the brig, hand to hand. The English 
vessel, in this affair, reported thirteen men killed and wounded, 
by the raking broadside of the Ranger alone. In the whole, 
she had between thirty and forty of her people injured. On 
her return from this cruise, the Ranger was purchased for the 
navy. 

In order to command the Lakes Champlain and George, 
across which lay the ancient and direct communication with 
the Canadas, flotillas had been constructed on both those wa- 
ters, by the Americans. To resist this force, and with a view 
to co-operate with the movements of their troops, the British 
commenced the construction of vessels at St. John's. Several 
men-of-war were laid up, in the St. Lawrence, and their offi- 
cers and crews were transferred to the shipping built on Lake 
Champlain. 

October 11th, General Arnold, who commanded the American 
flotilla, was lying off Cumberland Head, when at eight in the 
morning, the enemy appeared in force, to the northward, 
turning to windward with a view to engage. On that day the 
American vessels present, consisted of the Royal Savage, 1 2, 
6 



62 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776. 

Revenge, 10, Liberty, 10, Lee, cutter, 4, Congress, galley, 10, 
Washington, do., 10, Trumbull, do., 10, and eight gondolas. 
Besides the changes that had been made since August, two or 
three of the vessels that were on the lake were absent on other 
duty. The best accounts state the force of this flotilla, or of 
the vessels present, as follows, viz : 

Guns, 90, 

Metal, 647 lbs. 

Men, 600, including soldiers. 
On this occasion, the British brought up nearly their whole 
force, although having the disadvantage of being to leeward, 
all their vessels could not get into close action. Captain 
Douglas, of the Isis, had commanded the naval movements 
that preceded the battles, and Lieutenant-General Sir Guy 
Carleton, was present, in person, on board the Maria. The 
first officer, in his official report of the events, mentions that 
the Inflexible was ready to sail, within twenty-eight days after 
her keel had been laid, and that he had caused to be equipped, 
between July and October, " thirty fighting vessels of different 
sorts and sizes, and all carrying cannon." Captain Pringle, 
of the Lord Howe, was the officer actually in charge of the 
British naval force on the lake, and he commanded in person 
in the different encounters. 

The action of the 11th of October commenced at eleven in 
the forenoon, and by half-past twelve it was warm. On the 
part of the British, the battle for a long time was principally 
carried on by the gun-boats, which were enabled to sweep up 
to windward, and which, by their weight of metal, were very 
efficient in smooth water. The Carleton, 12, Lieutenant Dacres, 
was much distinguished on this day, being the only vessel of 
size that could get into close fight. After maintaining a hot 
fire for several hours, Captain Pringle judiciously called off 
the vessels that were engaged, anchoring just out of gun-shot, 
with an intention to renew the attack in the morning. In this 
affair the Americans, who had manifested great steadiness 
throughout the day, had about 60 killed and wounded, while 
the British acknowledged a loss of only 40. The Carleton, 
however, suffered considerably. 

Satisfied that it would be impossible, successfully, to resist so 
great a superiority of force, General Arnold got under way, at 
two P. M., on the 12th, with the wind fresh ahead. The 
enemy made sail in chase, as soon as this departure was dis- 
covered, but neither flotilla could make much progress on ac- 



1776] NAVAL HISTORY. 63 

count of the gondolas, which were unable to turn to windward. 
In the evening the wind moderated, when the Americans gained 
materially on their pursuers. Another change occurred, how- 
ever, and a singular variation in the currents of air, now fa- 
voured the enemy ; for while the Americans in the narrow 
part of the lake, were contending with a fresh southerly breeze, 
the English got the wind at northeast, which brought their 
leading vessels within gunshot at 12, meridian, on the 13th. 

On this occasion, Captain Pringle, in the Maria, led in per- 
son, closely supported by the Inflexible and Carleton. The 
Americans were much scattered, several of their gondolas 
having been sunk and abandoned, on account of the impossi- 
bility of bringing them off". General Arnold, in the Congress 
galley, covered the rear of his retreating flotilla, having the 
Washington galley, on board of which was Brigadier-General 
Waterbury, in company. The latter had been much shattered 
in the fight of the 11th, and after" receiving a tew close broad- 
sides, she was compelled to strike. General Arnold now de- 
fended himself like a lion, in the Congress, occupying the three 
vessels of the enemy so long a time, as to enable six of his 
little fleet to escape. When further resistance was out of the 
question, he ran the Congress on shore, set fire to her, and she 
blew up with her colours flying. 

Although the result of this action was so disastrous, the 
American arms gained much credit by the obstinacy of the re- 
sistance. General Arnold, in particular, covered himself with 
glory, and his example appears to have been nobly followed by 
most of his officers and men. Even the enemy did justice to 
the resolution and skill with which the American flotilla was 
managed, the disparity in the force rendering victory out of 
the question from the first. The manner in which the Con- 
gress was fought until she had covered the retreat of the gal- 
leys, and the stubborn resolution with which she was defended 
until destroyed, converted the disasters of this part of the day, 
into a species of triumph. 

In these affairs, the Americans lost eleven vessels, princi- 
pally gondolas ; while on the part of the British, two gondolas 
were sunk, and one blown up. The loss of men was supposed 
to be about equal, no less than sixty of the enemy perishing in 
the gondola that blew up. This statement differs from the 
published official accounts of the English ; but those reports, 
besides being meagre and general, are contradicted by too 
much testimony on the other side, to command our respect. 



64 NAVAL HISTORY. [1776-77. 

There has been occasion, already, to mention Mr. John 
Manly, who, in command of the schooner Lee, made the first 
captures that occurred in the war. The activity and resolu- 
tion of this officer, rendered his name conspicuous at the com- 
mencement of the struggle, and it followed as a natural conse- 
quence, that, when Congress regulated the rank of the captains, 
in 1776, he appears as one of them, his appointment having 
been made as early as April the 17th, of this year. So highly, 
indeed, were his services then appreciated, that the name of 
Captain Manly stands second on the list, and he was appointed 
to the command of the Hancock, 32. When Captain Manly 
was taken into the navy, the Lee was given to Captain Wa- 
ters, and was present at the capture of the three transports off 
Boston, as has been already stated. This little schooner, the 
name of which will ever remain associated with American his- 
tory, in consequence of her all-important captures in 1775, 
appears to have continued actively employed, as an in-shore 
cruiser, throughout this year, if not later, in the pay of the 
new state of Massachusetts. Captain Waters, like his prede- 
cessor, Captain Manly, was received into the navy on the 
recommendation of Washington, a commission to that effect 
having been granted by Congress, March 18th, 1777. 



CHAPTER VII. 

The year 1777 opened with better prospects for the Ameri- 
can cause. The hardy movements of Washington in New 
Jersey had restored the drooping confidence of the nation, and 
great efforts were made to follow up the advantage that had 
been so gloriously obtained. Most of the vessels authorised by 
the laws of 1775, had been built and equipped during the year 
1776; and America may now be said, for the first time, to 
have had something like a regular navy, although the service 
was still, and indeed continued to be throughout the war, de- 
ficient in organization, system, and unity. After the first ef- 
fort connected with its creation, the business of repairing losses, 
of increasing the force, and of perfecting that which had 
been so hastily commenced, was cither totally neglected, 



1778.] NAVAL HISTORY. 65 

or carried on in a manner so desultory and inefficient, as soon 
to leave very little of method or order in the marine. As a con- 
sequence, officers were constantly compelled to seek employ- 
ment in private armed ships, or to remain idle, and the disci- 
pline did not advance, as would otherwise have been the case 
during the heat of an active war. To the necessities of the 
nation, however, and not to a want of foresight and prudence, 
must be attributed this state of things, the means of raising and 
maintaining troops being obtained with difficulty, and the cost 
of many ships entirely exceeding its resources. It is probable, 
had not the public armed vessels been found useful in convey- 
ing, as well as in convoying the produce, by means of which 
the loans obtained in Europe were met, and perhaps indispen- 
sable to keeping up the diplomatic communications with that 
quarter of the world, that the navy would have been suffered 
to become extinct, beyond its employment in the bays and 
rivers of the country. This, however, is anticipating events, for 
at the precise moment in the incidents of the war at which we 
have now arrived, the exertions of the republic were perhaps at 
their height, as respects its naval armaments. 

One of the first, if not the very first of the new vessels that 
got to sea, was the Randolph 32. It has been seen that Cap- 
tain Biddle was appointed to this ship, on his return from his 
successful cruise in the Andrea Doria 14. The Randolph was 
launched at Philadelphia in the course of the season of 1776, 
and sailed on her first cruise early in 1777. Discovering a 
defect in his masts, as well as a disposition to mutiny in his 
people, too many of whom were volunteers from among the 
prisoners, Captain Biddle put into Charleston for repairs. As 
soon as the ship was refitted, he sailed again, and three days 
out, he fell in with and captured four Jamaica-men, one of 
which, the True Briton, had an armament of 20 guns. The 
Randolph returned to Charleston with her prizes, in safety. 
Here she appears to have been blockaded by a superior Eng- 
lish force, during the remainder of the season. The state au- 
thorities of South Carolina were so much pleased with the zeal 
and deportment of Captain Biddle, that they now added four 
small cruisers of their own, the General Moultrie 18, the Polly 
16, the Notre Dame 16, and the Fair American 14, to his 
command. With these vessels in company, and under his or- 
ders, Captain Biddle sailed early in 1778, in quest of the Bri- 
tish ships, the Carrysfort 32, the Perseus 20, the Hinchinbrook 
16, and a privateer, which had been cruising off Charleston for 
6* 



66 NAVAL HISTORY. [1778. 

some time. The American squadron, however, had been de- 
tained so long by foul winds, that, when it got into the offing, 
no traces of the enemy were to be discovered. For the further 
history of the Randolph, we are unhappily indebted to the 
British accounts. 

By a letter from Captain Vincent, of his Britannic Majesty's 
ship Yarmouth 64, dated March 17th, 1778, we learn that, 
on the 7th of that month, while cruising to the eastward of 
Barbadoes, he made six sail to the southwest, standing on a 
wind. The Yarmouth bore down on the chases, which proved 
to be two ships, three brigs and a schooner. About nine 
o'clock in the evening she succeeded in ranging up on the 
weather quarter of the largest and leading vessel of the stran- 
gers ; the ship next in size being a little astern and to leeward. 
Hoisting her own colours, the Yarmouth ordered the nearest 
ship to show her ensign, when the American flag was run up, 
and the enemy poured in a broadside. A smart action now 
commenced, and was maintained with vigour for twenty 
minutes, when the stranger blew up. The two ships were so 
near each other at the time, that many fragments of the wreck 
struck the Yarmouth, and among other things, an American 
ensign, rolled up, was blown in upon her forecastle. This flag 
was not even singed. The vessels in company now steered 
different ways, and the Yarmouth gave chase to two, varying 
her own course for that purpose. But her sails had suffered 
so much in the engagement, that the vessels chased soon run 
her out of sight. In this short action the Yarmouth, by the 
report of her own commander, had five men killed and twelve 
wounded. On the 12th, while cruising near the same place, a 
piece of wreck was discovered, with four men on it, who were 
making signals for relief. These men were saved, and when 
they got on board the Yarmouth, they reported themselves as 
having belonged to the United States ship Randolph 32, Cap- 
tain Biddle, the vessel that had blown up in action with the 
English ship on the night of the 7th of the same month. 
They had been floating ever since on the piece of wreck, with- 
out any other sustenance than a little rain-water. They stated 
that they were a month out of Charleston. 

We regard with admiration the steadiness and spirit with 
which, according to the account of his enemy, Captain Biddle 
commenced this action, against a force so vastly his superior ; 
and, although victory was almost hopeless, even had all his 
vessels behaved equally well with his own ship, we find it dif- 



1777.] NAVAL HISTORY. 67 

ficult, under the circumstances, to suppose that this gallant 
seaman did not actually contemplate carrying his powerful an- 
tagonist, most probably by boarding. 

In March, 1777, the United States brig Cabot, Captain 01- 
ney, was chased ashore, on the coast of Nova Scotia, by the 
British frigate Milford, which pressed the Cabot so hard that 
there was barely time to get the people out of her. Captain 
Olney and his crew retreated into the woods, and subsequently 
they made their escape by seizing a schooner, in which they 
safely arrived at home. The enemy, after a long trial, got 
the Cabot off, and she was taken into the British navy. 

Shortly after this loss, or on the 19th of April, the Trum- 
bull 28, Captain Saltonstall, fell in with, off New York, and 
captured after a smart action, two armed transports, with 
stores of value on board. In this affair the enemy suffered 
severely, and the Trumbull herself had 7 men killed and 8 
wounded. 

The following month the Hancock 32, Captain Manly, and 
Boston 24, Captain M'Neil, sailed on a cruise to the eastward. 
Towards the middle of May they made a sail to windward, 
and gave chase. The Hancock being the fastest sailer ap- 
proached the stranger, a British frigate, first ; the two vessels 
crossing each other on opposite tacks, and exchanging broad- 
sides in passing, at long shot. The American immediately 
tacked and continued to gain on the chase. As soon as she 
got within range of the stranger, the latter re-opened his fire, 
but Captain Manly sent his people to their breakfast, finding 
that little harm was done. In a short time the Hancock had 
got far enough ahead and to windward to open her fire, when 
the action commenced in earnest. After a close and warm 
engagement of an hour and thirty-five minutes, the enemy 
struck. At this time, or while the Hancock was lowering her 
boat to take possession, the Boston came down from a wea- 
therly position she had gained, and, it is said, fired a broad- 
side at the captured ship. Captain Manly rebuked his consort, 
and the cannonade ceased altogether. The prize proved to be 
the Fox 28, Captain Fotheringham. Her loss was heavy, hav- 
ing no less than 32 men killed. The Hancock had 8 killed 
and 13 wounded. 

Manning her prize, the Hancock now proceeded off Hali- 
fax, the Boston in company. The vessels appeared before the 
port on the first day of June. This brought out the Rainbow 
44, Captain Sir George Collier, with the Flora 32, and Victor 



68 NAVAL HISTORY. [1777. 

brig. The Flora gave chase to the Fox, the Boston being 
about a league to windward, while the Rainbow and Victor 
pursued the Hancock. The Fox was captured after a short 
action, the Boston keeping aloof, and eventually escaping. 
The wind fell, and Captain Manly was induced to lighten his 
ship. This destroyed her trim, and it is thought occasioned 
her loss. She was captured by the Rainbow and the Victor. 
The enemy took the Hancock into their service, calling her 
the Iris. She proved to be one of the fastest vessels they had, 
but was eventually taken by the French in the West-Indies. 
Capt. M'Neil was dismissed the service for his bad conduct on 
these two occasions. 

The occupation of Philadelphia by the British army, this 
year, wrought a material change in the naval arrangements 
of the country. Up to this time, the Delaware had been a 
safe place of retreat for the different cruisers, and ships had 
been constructed on its banks in security and to advantage. 
Philadelphia offered unusual facilities for such objects, and 
many public and private armed cruisers had been equipped at 
her wharves, previously to the appearance of the British forces 
under Sir William Howe. That important event completely 
altered the state of things, and the vessels that were in the 
stream at the time, were compelled to move higher up the river, 
or to get to sea in the best manner they could. Unfortunately, 
several of the ships constructed, or purchased, under the laws 
of 1775 were not in a situation to adopt the latter expedient, 
and they were carried to different places that were supposed 
to offer the greatest security. 

As a part of the American vessels and galleys were above, 
and a part below the town, the very day after reaching the 
capital, the English commenced the erection of batteries to in- 
tercept the communications between them. Aware of the con- 
sequences, the Delaware 24, Captain Alexander, and the An- 
drea Doria 14, seconded by some other vessels, belonging to 
the navy, and to the State of Pennsylvania, moved in front of 
these works, and opened a cannonade, with a view to destroy 
them. The Delaware was so unfortunately placed, that when 
the tide fell, she took the ground, and her guns became un- 
manageable. Some field-pieces were brought to bear on her, 
while in this helpless situation, and she necessarily struck. 
The other vessels were compelled to retire. 

As the command of the river was indispensable to the Brit- 
ish, they now turned their attention at once to the destruction 



1777.] NAVAL HISTORY. 69 

of the American works below the town. An unsuccessful 
land attack was made by the Hessians, on Red Bank, and this 
was soon followed by another on Fort Mifflin, which, as it 
was entrusted to the shipping, comes more properly within our 
observation. With a view to effect the reduction or abandon- 
ment of Fort Mifflin, the British assembled a squadron of ships 
of a light draft of water, among which was the Augusta 64, 
which had been partially stripped, and fitted in some measure 
as a floating battery. As soon as the troops advanced against 
Red Bank, as stated, the ships began to move, but some che- 
vaux de frise anchored in the river, had altered its channel, 
and the Augusta, and the Merlin sloop of war, got fast, in un- 
favourable positions. Some firing between the other vessels 
and the American works and galleys now took place, but was 
soon put a stop to by the approach of night. The next day 
the action was renewed with spirit, the Roebuck 44, Isis 32, 
Pearl 32, and Liverpool 28, being present, in addition to the 
Augusta and Merlin. Fire-ships were ineffectually employed 
by the Americans, but the cannonade became heavy. In the 
midst of the firing, it is said that some pressed hay, which 
had been secured on the quarter of the Augusta, to render her 
shot-proof, took fire, and the ship was soon in flames. It now 
became necessary to withdraw the other vessels, in order to 
escape the effects of the explosion, and the attack was aban- 
doned. The Augusta blew up, and the Merlin having been 
set on fire by the British shared the same fate. A number of 
the crew of the Augusta were lost in that ship, the conflagra- 
tion being so rapid as to prevent their removal. A second and 
better-concerted attack, however, shortly after, compelled the 
Americans to evacuate the works, when the enemy got com- 
mand of the river from the capes to the town. This state of 
things induced the Americans to destroy the few sea vessels 
that remained below Philadelphia, among which were the U. 
S. brig Andrea Doria 14, and schooner Wasp 8, and it is be- 
lieved the Hornet 10 ; though the galleys, by following the Jer- 
sey shore, were enabled to escape above. 

While these important movements were occurring in the 
middle states, the Raleigh, a fine twelve-pounder frigate, that 
had been constructed in New Hampshire, under the law of 
1775, was enabled to get to sea for the first time. She was 
commanded by Captain Thompson, and sailed in company 
with the Alfred 24, Captain Hinman. These two ships went 



70 NAVAL HISTORY. [1777. 

to sea, short of men, bound to France, where military stores 
were in waiting to be transported to America. 

The Raleigh and Alfred had a good run off the coast, and 
they made several prizes of little value during the first few 
days of their passage. On the 2d of September they over- 
took and captured a snow, called the Nancy, which had been 
left by the outward-bound Windward Island fleet, the previous 
day. Ascertaining from his prisoners the position of the West- 
Indiamen, Captain Thompson made sail in chase. The fleet 
was under the charge of the Camel, Druid, Weasel, and Grass- 
hopper, the first of which is said to have had an armament of 
twelve-pounders. The following day, or September 3d, 1777, 
the Raleigh made the convoy from her mast-heads, and by 
sunset was near enough to ascertain that there were sixty sail, 
as well as the positions of the men-of-war. Captain Thomp- 
son had got the signals of the fleet from his prize, and he now 
signalled the Alfred, as if belonging to the convoy. After 
dark he spoke his consort, and directed her commander to 
keep near him, it being his intention to run in among the ene- 
my, and to lay the commodore aboard. At this time, the two 
American ships were to windward, but nearly astern. 

In the course of the night the wind shifted to the northward, 
and the convoy hauled by the wind, bringing the American 
ships to leeward. At daylight the wind had freshened, and it 
became necessary to carry more sail than the Alfred (a ten- 
der-sided ship) could bear. Here occurred one of those in- 
stances of the unfortunate consequences which must always 
follow the employment of vessels of unequal qualities in the 
same squadron, or the employment of officers not trained in 
the same high school. The Alfred would not bear her can- 
vass, and while the Raleigh fetched handsomely into the fleet, 
under double-reefed topsails, the former fell to leeward more 
than a league. Captain Thompson did not dare to shorten 
sail, lest his character might be suspected, and despairing of 
being supported by the Alfred, he stood boldly in among the 
British ships alone, where he hove his ship to, in order to per- 
mit the merchantmen astern to draw more ahead of him. 

When his plan was laid, Captain Thompson filled away, 
and stood directly through the convoy, luffing up towards the 
vessel of war that was most to windward. In doing this he 
spoke several of the merchantmen, giving them orders how to 
steer, as if belonging himself to the fleet, and repeating all the 
commodore's signals. Up to this moment the Raleigh appears 



1777.] NAVAL HISTORY. 71 

to have escaped detection, nor had she had any signs of pre- 
paration about her, as her guns were housed, and her ports 
lowered. 

Having obtained a weatherly position, the Raleigh now ran 
alongside of the vessel of war, and when within pistol-shot, she 
hauled up her courses, ran out her guns, set her ensign, and 
commanded the enemy to strike. So completely was this ves- 
sel taken by surprise, that the oi'der threw her into great con- 
fusion, and even her sails got aback. The Raleigh seized this 
favourable moment to pour in a broadside, which was feebly 
returned. The enemy were soon driven from their guns, and 
the Raleigh fired twelve broadsides into the English ship in 
twenty minutes, scarcely receiving a shot in return. A heavy 
swell rendered the aim uncertain, but it was evident that the 
British vessel suffered severely, and this the more so, as she 
was of inferior force. 

A squall had come on, and at first it shut in the two ships 
engaged. When it cleared away, the convoy was seen steer- 
ing in all directions, in the utmost confusion ; but the vessels 
of war, with several heavy well-armed West-Indiamen, tacked 
and hauled up for the Raleigh, leaving no doubt of their inten- 
tions to engage. The frigate lay by her adversary until the 
other vessels were so near, that it became absolutely necessary 
to quit her, and then she ran to leeward and joined the Alfred. 
Here she shortened sail, and waited for the enemy to come 
down, but it being dark, the British commodore tacked and 
hauled in among his convoy again. The Raleigh and Alfred 
kept near this fleet for several days ; but no provocation could 
induce the vessels of war to come out of it, and it was finally 
abandoned. 

The ship engaged by the Raleigh, proved to be the Druid 
20, Captain Carteret. She was much cut up, and the official 
report of her commander, made her loss six killed, and twenty- 
six wounded. Of the latter, five died soon after the action, and 
among the wounded was her commander. The Druid was 
unable to pursue the voyage, and returned to England. 

The Raleigh had three men killed and wounded in the en- 
gagement, and otherwise sustained but little injury. 

On the 14th of June of this year, Congress first adopted the 
stars and stripes as the national flag. 



72 NAVAL HISTORY. [1778. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

The year 1778 opened with still more cheerful prospects 
for the great cause of American Independence ; the capture 
of Burgoyne, and the growing discontents in Europe, render- 
ing a French alliance, and a European war, daily more pro- 
bable. These events, in truth, soon after followed ; and from 
that moment, the entire policy of the United States, as related 
to its marine, was changed. Previously to this great event, 
Congress had often turned its attention towards the necessity 
of building or purchasing vessels of force, in order to counteract 
the absolute control which the enemy possessed, in the imme- 
diate waters of the country, and which even superseded the 
necessity of ordinary blockades, as two or three heavy frigates 
had been able, at any time since the commencement of the 
struggle, to command the entrance of the different bays and 
sounds. 

The French fleet, soon after the commencement of hostili- 
ties between England and France, appeared in the American 
seas, and, in a measure, relieved the country from a species 
of warfare that was v particularly oppressive to a nation that 
was then so poor, and which was exposed on so great an ex- 
tent of coast. 

As the occupation of New York and Philadelphia prevented 
several of the new frigates from getting to sea at all, or occa- 
sioned their early loss, Congress had endeavoured to repair 
these deficiencies by causing other vessels to be built, or pur- 
chased, at points where they would be out of danger from any 
similar misfortunes. Among these ships were the Alliance 32, 
Confederacy 32, Deane 32, (afterwards called the Hague,) 
and Queen of France 28, all frigate-built, and the Ranger, 
Gates, and Saratoga sloops of war. To these were added a 
few other vessels, that were either bought or borrowed in 
Europe. The Alliance, which, as her name indicates, was 
launched about the time the treaty was made with France, was 
the favourite ship of the American navy, and it might be added, 
of the American nation, during the war of the Revolution ; 
filling some such space in the public mind, as has since been 
occupied by her more celebrated successor, the Constitution. 



1778] NAVAL HISTORY. 73 

She was a beautiful and an exceedingly fast ship, but, as will 
be seen in the sequel, was rendered less efficient than she 
might otherwise have proved, by the mistake of placing her 
under the command of a French officer, with a view to pay a 
compliment to the new allies of the republic. This unfortunate 
selection produced mutinies, much discontent among the offi- 
cers, and, in the end, grave irregularities. The Alliance was 
built at Salisbury, in Massachusetts, a place that figured as a 
building station, even in the seventeenth century. 

The naval operations of the year open with a gallant little 
exploit, achieved by the United States sloop Providence, 12, 
Captain Rathburne. This vessel carried only four-pounders, 
and, at the time, is said to have had a crew of but fifty men 
on board. Notwithstanding this trifling force, Captain Rath- 
burne made a descent on the Island of New Providence, at the 
head of twenty-five men. He was joined by a few American 
prisoners, less than thirty, it is said, and, while a privateer of 
sixteen guns, with a crew of near fifty men, lay in the harbour, 
he seized the forts, got possession of the stores, and effectually 
obtained command of the place. All the vessels in port, six in 
number, fell into his hands, and an attempt of the armed popu- 
lation to overpower him, was suppressed, by a menace to burn 
the town. A British sloop of war appeared off the harbour, 
while the Americans were in possession, but, ascertaining that 
an enemy was occupying the works, she retired, after having 
been fired on. The following day, the people assembled in 
such force, as seriously to threaten the safety of his party and 
vessel, and Captain Rathburne caused the guns of the fort to 
be spiked, removed all the ammunition and small-arms, burned 
two of his prizes, and sailed with the remainder, without leaving 
a man behind him. In this daring little enterprise, the Ame- 
ricans held the place two entire days. 

Captain John Barry, whose spirited action off the capes of 
Virginia, in the Lexington 14, has been mentioned, and whose 
capture of the Edward, on that occasion, is worthy of note, as 
having been the first of any vessel of war, that was ever made 
by a regular American cruiser in battle, was placed on the 
regulated list of October, 1776, as the seventh captain, and 
appointed to the command of the Effingham 28, then building 
at Philadelphia. The Effingham was one of the vessels that 
had been taken up the Delaware, to escape from the British 
army ; and this gallant officer, wearied with a life of inactivity, 
planned an expedition down the stream, in the hope of striking 
7 



74 NAVAL HISTORY. [1778. 

a blow at some of the enemy's vessels anchored off, or below 
the town. Manning four boats, he pulled down with the tide. 
Some alarm was given when opposite the town, but dashing 
ahead, the barges got past without injury. Off Port Penn lay 
an enemy's schooner of ten guns, and four transports, with 
freight for the British army. The schooner was boarded and 
carried, without loss, and the transports fell into the hands of 
the Americans also. Two cruisers appearing soon after in the 
river, however, Captain Barry destroyed his prizes, and es- 
caped by land, without losing a man. 

Following the order of time, we now return to the movements 
of the two ships under the command of Captain Thompson, 
the Raleigh and the Alfred. After taking in military stores 
in France, these vessels sailed for America, making a circuit 
to the southward, in order to avoid the enemy's vessels of 
force, and to pick up a few prizes by the way. They sailed 
from POrient in February, 1778, and on the 9th of March, 
were chased by the British ships Ariadne and Ceres, which 
succeeded in getting alongside of the Alfred, and engaging her, 
while the Raleigh was at a distance. Believing a contest 
fruitless, after exchanging a few broadsides, the Alfred struck ; 
but the Raleigh, though hard pressed, in the chase that suc- 
ceeded, made her escape. Captain Thompson was blamed in 
the journals of the day, for not aiding his consort on this occa- 
sion ; and he appears to have been superseded in the command 
of his ship, to await the result of a trial. 

Among the frigates ordered by the act of 1775, was one 
called the Virginia 28, which had been laid down in Maryland. 
To this vessel was assigned Captain James Nicholson, the 
senior captain on the list, an officer who had already mani- 
fested conduct and spirit in an affair with one of the enemy's 
tenders off Annapolis, while serving in the local marine of 
Maryland. The great embarrassment which attended most of 
the public measures of the day, and a vigilant blockade, pre- 
vented the Virginia from getting to sea, until the spring of this 
year, when having received her crew and equipments, she 
made the attempt on the 30th of March. 

The frigate appears to have followed another vessel down 
the Chesapeake, under the impression that the best pilot of the 
bay was in charge of her. About three in the morning, how- 
ever, she struck on the middle ground, over which she beat 
with the loss of her rudder. The ship was immediately an- 
chored. Day discovered two English vessels of war at no 



1778.] NAVAL HISTORY. 75 

great distance, when Captain Nicholson got ashore with his 
papers, and the ship was taken possession of by the enemy. 
An inquiry, instituted by Congress, acquitted Captain Nichol- 
son of blame. 

Leaving the ocean, we will again turn our attention to the 
proceedings of the enemy in the Delaware. Early in May, an 
expedition left Philadelphia, under the command of Major Mait- 
land, and ascended that river with a view to destroy the Ame- 
rican shipping, which had been carried up it to escape the in- 
vading and successful army of the enemy. The force consisted 
of the schooners Viper and Pembroke ; the Hussar, Cornwallis, 
Ferret, and Philadelphia galleys; four gun-boats, and eighteen 
flat-boats, under the orders of Captain Henry of the navy. The 
2d battalion of the light-infantry, and two field-pieces composed 
the troops. Ascending the stream to a point above Bristol, the 
troops landed, without opposition. There does not appear to 
have been any force to oppose the British on this occasion, or, 
if any, one of so little moment, as to put a serious contest out 
of the question. The Washington 32, and Effingham 28, 
both of which had been built at Philadelphia, but had never 
got to sea, were burned. These ships had not yet received 
their armaments. 

About this time the celebrated Paul Jones, whose conduct 
as- a lieutenant in the Alfred, and in command of that ship, as 
well as in that of the Providence 12, had attracted much atten- 
tion, appeared in the European seas in command of the Ranger 
18. So cautious had the American government become, in 
consequence of the British remonstrances, that orders were 
given to the Ranger to conceal her armament while in Fi*ance. 

After going into Brest to refit, Captain Jones sailed from 
port on the 10th of April, 1778, on a cruise in the Irish Chan- 
nel. As the Ranger passed along the coast, she made several 
prizes, and getting as high as Whitehaven, Captain Jones de- 
termined, on the 17th, to make an attempt to burn the colliers 
that were crowded in that narrow port. The weather, how- 
ever, prevented the execution of this project, and the ship pro- 
ceeded as high as Glentine bay, on the coast of Scotland, where 
she chased a revenue vessel without success. 

Quitting the Scottish coast, the Ranger next crossed to Ire- 
land, and arrived off Carrickfergus, where she was boarded by 
some fishermen. From these men Captain Jones ascertained 
that the Drake sloop of war, Captain Burden, a vessel of a 
force about equal to that of the Ranger, lay anchored in the 



76 NAVAL HISTORY. [1778. 

roads, and he immediately conceived a plan to run in and take 
her. Preparations were accordingly made to attempt the en- 
terprise as soon as it was dark. 

It blew fresh in the night, but when the proper hour had 
arrived, the Ranger stood for the roads, having accurately ob- 
tained the bearings of her enemy. The orders of Captain 
Jones were to overlay the cable of the Drake, and to bring up 
on her bows, where he intended to secure his own ship, and 
abide the result. By some mistake, the anchor was not let go 
in season, and instead of fetching up in the desired position, 
the Ranger could not be checked until she had drifted on the 
quarter of the Drake, at the distance of half a cable's length. 
Perceiving that his object was defeated, Captain Jones ordered 
the cable to be cut, when the ship drifted astern, and, making 
sail, she hauled by the wind as soon as possible. The gale 
increasing, it was with great difficulty that the Ranger wea- 
thered the land, and regained the channel. 

Captain Jones now stood over to the English coast, and be- 
lieving the time more favourable, he attempted to execute his 
former design on the shipping of Whitehaven. Two parties 
landed in the night ; the forts were seized and the guns were 
spiked ; the few look-outs that were in the works being con- 
fined. In effecting this duty, Captain Jones was foremost in 
person, for, having once sailed out of the port, he was familiar 
with the place. An accident common to both the parties into 
which the expedition had been divided, came near defeating 
the enterprise in the outset. They had brought candles in 
lanterns, as lights and torches, and, now that they were wanted 
for the latter purpose, it was found that they were all con- 
sumed. As the day was appearing, the party under Mr. Wal- 
lingford, one of the lieutenants, took to its boat without effect- 
ing any thing, while Captain Jones sent to a detached building 
and obtained a candle. He boarded a large ship, kindled a 
fire in her steerage, and by placing a barrel of tar over the 
spot, soon had the vessel in flames. The tide being out, this 
ship lay in the midst of more than a handred others, high and 
dry, and Captain Jones flattered himself with the hope of sig- 
nally revenging the depredations that the enemy had so freely 
committed on the American coast. But, by this time, the alarm 
was effectually given, and the entire population appeared on 
the adjacent high ground, or were seen rushing in numbers to- 
wards the shipping. The latter were easily driven back by a 
show of force ; and remaining a sufficient time, as he thought, 



1778.] NAVAL HISTORY. 77 

to make sure of an extensive conflagration, Captain Jones took 
to his boats and pulled towards his ship. Some guns were fired 
on the retiring boats without effect ; but the people of the place 
succeeded in extinguishing the flames before the mischief be- 
came very extensive. 

The hardihood, as well as the nature of this attempt, pro- 
duced a great alarm along the whole English coast ; and from 
that hour, even to this, the name of Jones, in the midst of the 
people of Whitehaven, is associated with audacity, destruction, 
and danger. 

While cruising, with the utmost boldness, as it might be in 
the very heart of the British waters, with the coasts of the 
three kingdoms frequently in view at the same moment, Cap- 
tain Jones, who was a native of the country, decided to make 
an attempt to seize the Earl of Selkirk, who had a seat on St. 
Mary's Isle, near the point where the Dee flows into the chan- 
nel. A party landed, and got possession of the house, but its 
master was absent. The officer in command of the boats so 
far forgot himself as to bring away a quantity of the family 
plate, although no other injury was done, or any insult offered. 
This plate, the value of which did not exceed a hundred pounds, 
was subsequently purchased of the crew by Captain Jones, and 
returned to Lady Selkirk, with a letter expressive of his regrets 
at the occurrence. 

After the landing mentioned, the Ranger once more steered 
towards Ireland, Captain Jones still keeping in view his design 
on the Drake, and arrived off Carrickfergus again, on the 24th. 
The commander of the latter ship sent out an officer, in one 
of his boats, to ascertain the character of the stranger. By 
means of skilful handling, the Ranger was kept end-on to the 
boat, and as the officer in charge of the latter could merely see 
the ship's stern, although provided with a glass, he suffered 
himself to be decoyed alongside, and was taken. From the 
prisoners, Captain Jones learned that intelligence of his de- 
scents on Whitehaven and St. Mary's Isle had reached Belfast, 
and that the people of the Drake had weighed the anchor he 
had lost in his attempt on that ship. 

Under these circumstances, Captain Jones believed that the 
commander of the Drake would not long defer coming out in 
search of his boat ; an expectation that was shortly realised, 
by the appearance of the English ship under way. The 
Ranger now filled and stood off the land, with a view to draw 
her enemy more into the channel, where she lay to, in waiting 
7 # 



78 NAVAL HISTORY. [1778. 

for the latter to come on. Several small vessels accompanied 
the Drake, to witness the combat, and many volunteers had 
gone on board her, to assist in capturing the American pri- 
vateer, as it was the fashion of the day to term the vessels of 
the young republic. The tide being unfavourable, the Drake 
worked out of the roads slowly, and night was approaching 
before she drew near the Ranger. 

The Drake, when she got sufficiently nigh, hailed, and re- 
ceived the name of her antagonist, by way of challenge, with 
a request to come on. As the two ships were standing on, the 
Drake a little to leeward and astern, the Ranger put her helm 
up, a manoeuvre that the enemy imitated, and the former gave 
the first broadside, firing as her guns bore. The wind ad- 
mitted of but few changes, but the battle was fought running 
free, under easy canvass. It lasted an hour and four minutes, 
when the Drake called for quarter, her ensign being already 
down. 

The English ship was much cut up, both in her hull and 
aloft, and Captain Jones computed her loss at about forty men. 
Her captain and lieutenant were both desperately wounded, 
and died shortly after the engagement. The Ranger suffered 
much less, having Lieutenant Wallingford and one man killed, 
and six wounded. The Drake was not only a heavier ship, 
but she had a much stronger crew than her antagonist. She 
had also two guns the most. 

After securing her prize and repairing damages, the Ranger 
went round the north of Ireland, and shaped her course for 
Brest. She was chased repeatedly, but arrived safely at her 
port with the Drake, on the 8th of May. 

Mr. Silas Talbot, of Rhode Island, who had been a seaman 
in his youth, had taken service in the army, and, October 10th, 
1777, he had been raised to the rank of a Major, to reward 
him for a spirited attempt to set fire to one of the enemy's 
cruisers in the Hudson. In the autumn of the present year 
(1778), Major Talbot headed another expedition against the Brit- 
ish schooner Pigot 8, then lying in the eastern passage between 
Rhode Island and the main land, in a small sloop that had two 
light guns, and which was manned by 60 volunteers. The 
Pigot had 45 men, and one heavy gun in her bows, besides 
the rest of her armament. Her commander showed great 
bravery, actually fighting alone on deck, in his shirt, when 
every man of his crew had run below. Major Talbot carried 
the schooner without loss, and for his conduct and gallantry 



1778.] NAVAL HISTORY. 79 

was promoted to be a Lieutenant-Colonel. The following year 
this officer was transferred to the navy, Congress passing an 
especial resolution to that effect, with directions to the Marine 
Committee to give him a ship on the first occasion. It does 
not appear, however, that it was in the power of the commit- 
tee, at that period of the war, to appoint Captain Talbot to a 
government vessel, and he is believed to have served, subse- 
quently, in a private armed ship. 

In consequence of the investigation connected with the loss 
of the Alfred, Captain Thompson was relieved from the com- 
mand of the Raleigh 32, as has been said already, and that 
ship was given to Captain Barry. Under the orders of her 
new commander, the Raleigh sailed from Boston on the 25th 
of September, at six in the morning, having a brig and a sloop 
under convoy. The wind was fresh at N. W., and the frigate 
ran off N. E. At twelve, two strange sail were seen to lee- 
ward, distant fifteen or sixteen miles. Orders were given to 
the convoy to haul nearer to the wind, and to crowd all the 
sail it could carry, the strangers in chase. After dark the 
Raleigh lost sight of the enemy, and the wind became light 
and variable. The Raleigh now cleared for action, and kept 
her people at quarters all night, having tacked towards the 
land. In the morning it proved to be hazy, and the strangers 
were not to be seen. The Raleigh was still standing towards 
the land, which she shortly after made ahead, quite near. 
About noon, the haze clearing away, the enemy were seen in 
the southern board, and to windward, crowding sail in chase. 
The weather became thick asrain, and the Raleieh lost sio;ht 
of her two pursuers, when she hauled off to the eastward. 
That night no more was seen of the enemy, and at daylight 
Captain Barry took in every thing, with a view to conceal the 
position of the ship, which was permitted to drift under bare 
poles. Finding nothing visible at 6, A. M., the Raleigh 
crowded sail once more, and stood S. E. by S. But at half 
past 9, the two ships were again discovered astern, and in 
chase. The Raleigh now hauled close upon a wind, heading 
N. W., with her larboard tacks aboard. The enemy also 
came to the wind, all three vessels carrying hard with a 
staggering breeze. The Raleigh now fairly outsailed the 
strangers, running 11 knots 2 fathoms, on a dragged bowline. 

Unfortunately, at noon the wind moderated, when the lead- 
ing vessel of the enemy overhauled the Raleigh quite fast, and 
even the ship astern held way with her. At 4, P. M., the 



80 NAVAL HISTORY. 1778. 

Raleigh tacked to the westward, with a view to discover the 
force of the leading vessel of the enemy ; and about the same 
time she made several low islands, the names of which were 
not known. At 5, P. M., the leading vessel of the enemy 
having nearly closed, the Raleigh edged away and crossed her 
fore foot, brailing her mizzen, and taking in her staysails. 
The enemy showed a battery of 14 guns of a side, including 
both decks, and set St. George's ensign. In passing, the 
Raleigh delivered her broadside, which was returned, when 
the stranger came up under the lee quarter of the American 
ship, and the action became steady and general. At the 
second fire, the Raleigh unfortunately lost her fore-topmast 
and mizzen top-gallant-mast, which gave the enemy a vast 
advantage in manoeuvring throughout the remainder of the 
affair. Finding the broadside of the Raleigh getting to be too 
hot for him, the enemy soon shot ahead, and, for a short time, 
while the people of the former ship were clearing the wreck, 
he engaged to windward, and at a distance. Ere long, how- 
ever, the English vessel edged away and attempted to rake the 
Raleigh, when Captain Barry bore up, and bringing the ships 
alongside each other, he endeavoured to board, a step that the 
other, favoured by all his canvass, and his superiority of sail- 
ing in a light breeze, easily avoided. By this time, the second 
ship had got so near as to render it certain she would very 
soon close, and, escape by flight being out of the question in 
the crippled condition of his ship, Captain Barry called a coun- 
cil of his officers. It was determined to make an attempt to 
run the frigate ashore, the land being then within a few miles. 
The Raleigh accordingly wore round, and stood for the islands 
already mentioned, her antagonist following her in the most 
gallant manner, both ships maintaining the action with spirit. 
About midnight, however, the enemy hauled off, and left the 
Raleigh to pursue her course towards the land. The engage- 
ment had lasted seven hours, much of the time in close action, 
and both vessels had suffered materially, the Raleigh in parti- 
cular, in her spars, rigging, and sails. The darkness, soon 
after, concealing his ship, Captain Barry had some hopes of 
getting off among the islands, and was in the act of bending 
new sails for that purpose, when the enemy's vessels again 
came in sight, closing fast. The Raleigh immediately opened 
a brisk fire from her stern guns, and every human effort was 
made to force the ship towards the land. The enemy, how- 
ever, easily closed again, and opened a heavy fire, which was 



1778.] NAVAL HISTORY. 81 

returned by the Raleigh until she grounded, when the largest 
of the enemy's ships immediately hauled off, to avoid a 
similar calamity, and, gaining a safe distance, both vessels 
continued their fire, from positions they had taken on the 
Raleigh's quarter. Captain Barry, finding that the island 
was rocky, and that it might be defended, determined to land, 
and to burn his ship ; a project that was rendered practicable 
by the fact that the enemy had ceased firing, and anchored at 
the distance of about a mile. A large party of men got on 
shore, and the boats were about to return for the remainder, 
when it was discovered that, by the treachery of a petty officer, 
the ship had surrendered. 

The officers and men on the island escaped, but the vessel 
was got off* and placed in the British navy. The two ships 
that took the Raleigh were the Experiment 50, Captain Wal- 
lace, and the Unicorn 22. The latter mounted 28 guns, and 
was the ship that engaged the Raleigh so closely, so long, and 
so obstinately. She was much cut up, losing her masts after 
the action, and had 10 men killed, besides many wounded. 
The Americans had 25 men killed and wounded in the course 
of the whole affair. 



CHAPTER IX. 

The year 1779 opens with the departure of the Alliance, 
32, for France. It has already been stated that the command 
of this ship had been given to a Captain Landais, who was 
said to be a French officer of gallantry and merit. Unfortu- 
nately the prejudices of the seamen did not answer to the com- 
plaisance of the Marine Committee in this respect, and it was 
found difficult to obtain a crew willing to enlist under a French 
captain. When General Lafayette reached Boston near the 
close of 1778, in order to embark in the Alliance, it was found 
that the frigate was not yet manned. Desirous of rendering 
themselves useful to their illustrious guest, the government of 
Massachusetts offered to complete the ship's complement by 
impressment, an expedient that had been adopted on more than 
one occasion during the war; but the just-minded and benevo- 



82 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

lent Lafayette would not consent to the measure. Anxious to 
sail, however, for he was entrusted with important interests, 
recourse was had to a plan to man the ship, which, if less ob- 
jectionable on the score of principle, was scarcely less so in 
every other point of view. 

The Somerset 64, had been wrecked on the coast of New 
England, and part of her crew had found their way to Boston. 
By accepting the proffered services of these men, those of some 
volunteers from among the prisoners, and those of a few 
French seamen that were also found in Boston after the de- 
parture of their fleet, a motley number was raised in sufficient 
time to enable the ship to sail on the 11th of January. With 
this incomplete and mixed crew, Lafayette trusted himself on 
the ocean, and the result was near justifying the worst fore- 
bodings that so ill-advised a measure could have suggested. 

After a tempestuous passage, the Alliance got within two 
days' run of the English coast, when her officers and passen- 
gers, of the latter of whom there were many besides General 
Lafayette and his suite, received the startling information that 
a conspiracy existed among the English portion of the crew, 
some seventy or eighty men in all, to kill the officers, seize the 
vessel, and carry the frigate into England. With a view to 
encourage such acts of mutiny, the British Parliament had 
passed a law to reward all those crews that should run away 
with American ships ; and this temptation was too strong for 
men whose service, however voluntary it might be in appear- 
ances, was probably reluctant, and which had been compelled 
by circumstances, if not by direct coercion. 

The plot, however, was betrayed, and by the spirited con- 
duct of the officers and passengers, the ringleaders were ar- 
rested. 

On reaching Brest, the mutineers were placed in a French 
gaol, and after some delay, were exchanged as prisoners of 
war, without any other punishment ; the noble-minded Lafa- 
yette, in particular, feeling averse to treating foreigners as it 
would have been a duty to treat natives under similar circum- 
stances. 

On the 18th of April, the U. S. ships Warren 32, Captain 
J. B. Hopkins, Queen of France 28, Captain Olney, and Ran- 
ger 18, Captain Simpson, sailed from Boston, in company, on 
a cruise ; Captain Hopkins being the senior officer. When a 
few days from port, these vessels captured a British privateer 
of 14 guns, from the people of which they ascertained that a 



1779.] NAVAL HISTORY. 83 

small fleet of armed transports and store-ships had just sailed 
from New York, bound to Georgia, with supplies for the ene- 
my's forces in that quarter. The three cruisers crowded sail 
in chase, and off Cape Henry, late in the day, they had the 
good fortune to come up with nine sail, seven of which they 
captured, with a trifling resistance. Favoured by the dark- 
ness, the two others escaped. The vessels taken proved to be 
his Britannic Majesty's ship Jason, 20, with a crew of 150 
men ; the Maria armed ship, of 16 guns, and 84 men ; and the 
privateer schooner Hibernia, 8, with a crew of 45 men. The 
Maria had a full cargo of flour. In addition to these vessels, 
the brigs Patriot, Prince Frederick, Bachelor John, and the 
schooner Chance, all laden with stores, fell into the hands of 
the Americans. Among the prisoners were twenty-four Brit- 
ish officers, who were on their way to join their regiments at 
the south. 

The command of the Queen of France was now given to 
Captain Rathburne, when that ship sailed on another cruise, in 
company with the Ranger, and the Providence 28, Captain 
Whipple ; the latter being the senior officer. In July, this 
squadron fell in with a large fleet of English merchantmen, 
that was convoyed by a ship of the line, and some smaller 
cruisers, and succeeded in cutting out several valuable prizes, 
of which eight arrived at Boston, their estimated value exceed- 
ing a million of dollars. In the way of pecuniary benefits, 
this was the most successful cruise made in the war. 

Paul Jones had obtained so much celebrity for his services in 
the Ranger, that he remained in France, after the departure of 
his ship for America, in the hope of receiving a more import- 
ant command, the inducement, indeed, which had originally 
brought him to Europe. Many different projects to this effect 
had been entertained and abandoned, during the years 1778 
and 1779, by one of which a descent was to have been made 
on Liverpool, with a body of troops commanded by Lafayette. 
All of these plans, however, produced no results ; and after 
many vexatious repulses in his applications for service, an ar- 
rangement was finally made to give this celebrated officer em- 
ployment that was as singular in its outlines, as it proved to 
be inconvenient, not to say impracticable, in execution. 

By a letter from M. de Sartine, the minister of the marine, 
dated February 4th, 1779, it appears that the King of France 
had consented to purchase and put at the disposition of Captain 
Jones, the Duras, an old Indiaman of some size, then lying at 



84 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

POrient. To this vessel were added three more that were pro- 
cured by means of M. le Ray de Chaumont, a banker of emi- 
nence connected with the court, and who acted on the occasion, 
under the orders of the French ministry. Dr. Franklin, who, 
as minister of the United States, was supposed, in a legal sense, 
to direct the whole affair, added the Alliance 32, in virtue of 
the authority that he held from Congress. The vessels that 
were thus chosen, formed a little squadron, composed of the 
Duras, Alliance, Pallas, Cerf, and Vengeance. The Pallas 
was a merchantman bought for the occasion ; the Vengeance 
a small brig that had also been purchased expressly for the 
expedition ; the Cerf was a fine large cutter, and, with the ex- 
ception of the Alliance, the only vessel of the squadron fitted 
for war. All the ships but the Alliance were French-built, 
and they were placed under the American flag, by the follow- 
ing arrangement. 

The officers received appointments, which were to remain 
valid for a limited period only, from Dr. Franklin, who had 
held blank commissions to be filled up at his own discretion, 
ever since his arrival in Europe, while the vessels were to 
show the American ensign, and no other. In short, the French 
ships were to be considered as American ships, during this 
particular service, and when it was terminated, they were to 
revert to their former owners. The laws and provisions of the 
American navy were to govern, and command was to be exer- 
cised, and to descend, agreeably to its usages. Such officers 
as already had rank in the American service, were to take 
precedence of course, agreeably to the dates of their respective 
commissions, while the new appointments were to be regulated 
by the new dates. By an especial provision, Captain Jones 
was to be commander-in-chief, a post he would have been 
entitled to fill by his original commission ; Captain Landais 
of the Alliance, the only other regular captain in the squad- 
ron, being his junior. The joint right of the American 
minister and of the French government, to instruct the com- 
modore, and to direct the movements of the squadron, was also 
recognised. 

From what source the money was actually obtained by 
which this squadron was fitted out, is not actually known, nor 
is it now probable that it will ever be accurately ascertained. 
Although the name of the king was used, it is not impossible 
that private adventure was at the bottom of the enterprise, 
though it seems certain that the government was so far con- 



1779 f ] NAVAL HISTORY. 85 

cerned as to procure the vessels, and to a certain extent to lend 
the use of its stores. Dr. Franklin expressly states, that he 
made no advances for any of the ships employed. 

As every thing connected with this remarkable enterprise 
has interest, we shall endeavour to give the reader a better 
idea of the materials, physical and moral, that composed the 
force of Commodore Jones, in this memorable cruise. 

After many vexatious delays, the Duras, her name having 
been changed to that of the Bon Homme Richard, in compli- 
ment to Dr. Franklin, was eventually equipped and manned. 
Directions had been given to cast the proper number of eighteen- 
pounders for her ; but, it being ascertained that there would not 
be time to complete this order, some old twelves were procured 
in their places. With this material change in the armament, 
the Richard, as she was familiarly called by the seamen, got 
ready for sea. She was, properly, a single-decked ship; or 
carried her armament on one gun-deck, with the usual addi- 
tions on the quarter-deck and forecastle ; but Commodore 
Jones, with a view to attacking some of the larger convoys of 
the enemy, caused twelve ports to be cut in the gun-room be- 
low, where six old eighteen-pounders were mounted, it being 
his intention to fight all the guns on one side, in smooth water. 
The height of the ship admitted of this arrangement, though it 
was foreseen that these guns could not be of much use, except 
in very moderate weather, or when engaging to leeward. On 
her main, or proper gun-deck, the ship had twenty-eight ports, 
the regular construction of an English 38, agreeably to the old 
mode of rating. Here the twelve«pounders were placed. On 
the quarter-deck and forecastle, were mounted eight nines, 
making in all a mixed and rather light armament of 42 guns. 
If the six cighteens were taken away, the force of the Bon 
Homme Richard, so far as her guns were concerned, would 
have been about equal to that of a 32 gun frigate. The vessel 
was clumsily constructed, having been built many years be- 
fore, and had one of those high old-fashioned poops, that caused 
the sterns of the ships launched in the early part of the eigh- 
teenth century to resemble towers. 

To manage a vessel of this singular armament and doubtful 
construction, Commodore Jones was compelled to receive on 
board a crew of a still more equivocal composition. A few 
Americans were found to fill the stations of sea-officers, on the 
quarter-deck and forward ; but the remainder of the people were 
a mixture of English, Irish, Scotch, Portuguese, Norwegians, 
8 



86 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

Germans, Spaniards, Swedes, Italians and Malays, with occa- 
sionally a man from one of the islands. To keep this motley 
crew in order, one hundred and thirty-five soldiers were put on 
board, under the command of some officers of inferior rank. 
These soldiers, or marines, were recruited at random, and 
were not much less singularly mixed, as to countries, than the 
regular crew. 

As the squadron was about to sail, M. Le Ray appeared at 
l'Orient, and presented an agreement, or concordat as it was 
termed, for the signature of all the commanders. To this sin- 
gular compact, which in some respects, reduced a naval expedi- 
tion to the level of a partnership, Commodore Jones ascribed 
much of the disobedience among his captains, of which he sub- 
sequently complained. 

On the 19th of June, 1779, the ships sailed from the anchor- 
age under the Isle of Groix, off l'Orient, bound to the south- 
ward, with a few transports and coasters under their convoy. 
These vessels were seen into their several places of destina- 
tion, in the Garonne, Loire, and other ports, but not without 
the commencement of that course of disobedience of orders, 
unseamanlike conduct, and neglect, which so signally marked 
the whole career of this ill-assorted force. While lying 
to, off the coast, the Alliance, by palpable mismanagement, 
got foul of the Richard, and lost her mizzen-mast ; carrying 
away, at the same time, the head, cut- water, and jib-boom of 
the latter. It now became necessary to return to port to 
refit. 

While steering northerly again, the Cerf cutter was sent in 
chase of a strange sail, and parted company. The next morn- 
ing she engaged a small English cruiser of 14 guns, and after a 
sharp conflict of more than an hour, obliged her to strike, but 
was compelled to abandon her prize in consequence of the ap- 
pearance of a vessel of superior force. The Cerf, with a loss 
of several men killed and wounded, made the best of her way 
to l'Orient. 

On the 22d, three enemy's vessels of war came in sight of 
the squadron, and having the wind, they ran down in a line 
abreast ; when, most probably deceived by the height and ge- 
neral appearance of the Richard, they hauled up, and by car- 
rying a press of sail, escaped. 

On the 26th, the Alliance and Pallas parted company with 
the Richard, leaving that ship with no other consort than the 



1779.] NAVAL HISTORY. 87 

Vengeance brig. On reaching the Penmarks, the designated 
rendezvous, the missing vessels did not appear. On the 29th, 
the Vengeance having made the best of her way for the roads 
of Groix by permission, the Richard fell in with two more of 
the enemy's cruisers, which, after some indications of an inten- 
tion to come down, also ran, no doubt under the impression 
that the American frigate was a ship of two decks. On this 
occasion Commodore Jones expressed himself satisfied with the 
spirit of his crew, the people manifesting a strong wish to en- 
gage. On the last of the month, the Richard returned to the 
roads from which she had sailed, and anchored. The Alliance 
and Pallas came in also. 

Another delay occurred. A court was convened to inquire 
into the conduct of Captain Landais of the Alliance, and of 
other officers, in running foul of the Richard, and both ships 
underwent repairs. Luckily a cartel arrived from England, 
at this moment, bringing with her more than a hundred ex- 
changed American seamen, most of whom joined the squadron. 
This proved to be a great and important accession to the com- 
position of the crew of not only the Richard, but to that of the 
Alliance, the latter ship having been but little better off than 
the former in this particular. Among those who came from 
the English prisons, was Mr. Richard Dale, who had been 
taken as a master's mate in the Lexington 14. This young 
officer did not reach France in the cartel, however, but had 
previously escaped from Mill prison and joined the Richard. 
Commodore Jones had now become sensible of his merit, and 
in reorganizing his crew, he had him promoted, and rated 
him as his first lieutenant. The Richard had now nearly a 
hundred Americans in her, and, with the exception of the com- 
modore himself and one midshipman, all her quarter-deck sea- 
officers were of the number. Many of the petty officers too, 
were Americans. In a letter written August the 11th, Com- 
modore Jones states that the crew of the Richard consisted of 
380 souls, including 137 marines or soldiers. 

On the 14th of August, 1779, the squadron sailed a second 
time from the roads of Groix, having the French privateers 
Monsieur and Granville in company, and under the orders of 
Commodore Jones. On the 18th a valuable prize was taken, 
and some difficulties arising with the commander of the Mon- 
sieur in consequence, the latter parted company in the night 
of the 19th. This was a serious loss in the way of force, 
that ship having mounted no less than forty guns. A prize 



88 NAVAL HISTORY. [1773. 

was also taken on the 21st. On the 23d, the ships were off 
Cape Clear, and, while towing the Richard's head round in a 
calm, the crew of a boat manned by Englishmen, cut the tow- 
line, and escaped. Mr. Cutting Lunt, the sailing-master of 
the ship, manned another boat, and taking with him four sol- 
diers, he pursued the fugitives. A fog coming on, the latter 
boat was not able to find the ships again, and her people fell 
into the hands of the enemy. Through this desertion and its 
immediate consequences, the Richard lost twenty of her best 
men. 

The day after the escape of the boat, the Cerf was sent 
close in to reconnoitre, and to look for the missing people, and 
owing to some circumstance that has never been explained, 
but which does not appear to have left any reproach upon her 
commander, this vessel never rejoined the squadron. 

A gale of wind followed, during which the Alliance and 
Pallas separated, and the Granville parted company to convoy a 
prize, according to orders. The separation of the Pallas is 
explained by the fact that she had broken her tiller ; but that 
of the Alliance can only be imputed to the unofficerlike, as 
well as unseamanlike, conduct of her commander. On the 
morning of the 27th, the brig Vengeance was the only vessel 
in company with the commodore. 

On the morning of the 31st of August, the Bon Homme 
Richard, being off Cape Wrath, captured a large letter of 
marque bound from London to Quebec ; a circumstance that 
proves the expedients to which the English ship-masters were 
then driven to avoid capture, this vessel having actually gone 
north-about to escape the cruisers on the ordinary track. 
While in chase of the letter of marque, the Alliance hove in 
sight, having another London ship, a Jamaica-man,- in com- 
pany as a prize. Captain Landais, of the Alliance, an officer, 
who, as it has since been ascertained, had been obliged to quit 
the French navy on account of a singularly unfortunate tem- 
per, now began to exhibit a disorganising and mutinous spirit, 
pretending, as his ship was the only real American vessel in 
the squadron, that he was superior to the orders of the com- 
modore, and that he would do as he pleased with that frigate. 

In the afternoon a strange sail was made, and the Richard 
showed the Alliance's number, with an order to chase. In- 
stead of obeying this signal, Captain Landais wore and laid 
the head of his ship in a direction opposite to that necessary 
to execute the order. Several other signals were disobeyed 



1779.] NAVAL HISTORY. 89 

in an equally contemptuous manner, and the control of Com- 
modore Jones over the movements of this ship, which, on the 
whole, ought to have been the most efficient in the squadron, 
may be said to have ceased. 

Commodore Jones now shaped his course for the second 
rendezvous he had appointed, in the hope of meeting the miss- 
ing ships. On the 2d of September, the Pallas rejoined, hav- 
ing captured nothing. Between this date and the 13th of 
September, the squadron continued its course round Scotland, 
the ships separating and rejoining constantly, and Captain 
Landais assuming powers over the prizes, as well as over his 
own-vessel, that were altogether opposed to discipline, and to 
the usages of every regular marine. On the last day named, 
the Cheviot Hills were visible. 

Understanding that a twenty-gun ship with two or three 
man-of-war cutters were lying at anchor off Leith, in the Frith 
of Forth, Commodore Jones now planned a descent on that 
town. At this time the Alliance was absent, and the Pallas 
and Vengeance having chased to the southward, the necessity 
of communicating with those vessels produced a delay fatal to 
a project which had been admirably conceived, and which there 
is reason to think might have succeeded. After joining his 
two subordinates, and giving his orders, Commodore Jones 
beat into the Frith, and continued working up towards Leith, 
until the 17th, when, being just out of gun-shot of the town, 
the boats were got out and manned. The troops to be landed 
were commanded by M. de Chamilliard ; while Mr. Dale, of 
the Richard, was put at the head of the seamen. The latter 
had received his orders, and was just about to go into his boat, 
when a squall struck the ships, and was near dismasting the 
commodore. Finding himself obliged to fill his sails, Commo- 
dore Jones endeavoured to keep the ground he had gained, but 
the weight of the wind finally compelled all the vessels to bear 
up, and a severe gale succeeding, they were driven into the 
North Sea, where one of the prizes foundered. 

It is not easy to say what would have been the result of this 
dashing enterprise, had the weather permitted the attempt. 
The audacity of the measure might have insured a victory ; 
and in the whole design we discover the decision, high moral 
courage, and deep enthusiasm of the officer who conceived it. 
It was the opinion of Mr. Dale, a man of singular modesty, 
great simplicity of character, and prudence, that success would 
have rewarded the effort. 



90 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

Abandoning this bold project with reluctance, Commodore 
Jones appears to have meditated another still more daring ; but 
his colleagues, as he bitterly styles his captains in one of his 
letters, refused to join in it. It is worthy of remark, that when 
Commodore Jones laid this second scheme, which has never 
been explained, before the young sea-officers of his own ship, 
they announced their readiness as one man to second him, 
heart and hand. The enterprise was dropped, however, in 
consequence principally of the objections of Captain Cottineau, 
of the Pallas, an officer for whose judgment the commodore 
appears to have entertained much respect. 

The Pallas and Vengeance even left the Richard, probably 
with a view to prevent the attempt to execute this nameless 
scheme, and the commodore was compelled to follow his cap- 
tains to the southward, or to lose them altogether. Off Whitby 
the ships last named joined again, and on the 21st the Richard 
chased a collier ashore between Flamborough Head and the 
Spurn. The next day the Richard appeared in the mouth of 
the Humber, with the Vengeance in company ; and several 
vessels were taken or destroyed. Pilots were enticed on board, 
and a knowledge of the state of things in-shore was obtained. 
It appeared that the whole coast was alarmed, and that many 
persons were actually burying their plate. Some twelve or 
thirteen vessels in all had now been taken by the squadron, 
and quite as many more destroyed ; and coupling these facts 
with the appearance of the ships on the coast and in the Frith, 
rumour had swelled the whole into one of its usual terrific 
tales. Perhaps no vessels of war had ever before excited so 
much alarm on the coast of Great Britain. 

Under the circumstances, Commodore Jones did not think 
it prudent to remain so close in with the land, and he stood 
out towards Flamborough Head. Here two large sail were 
made, which next day proved to be the Alliance and the Pallas. 
This was on the 23d of September, and brings us down to the 
most memorable event in this extraordinary cruise. 

The wind was light at the southward, the water smooth, and 
many vessels were in sight steering in different directions. 
About noon, his original squadron, with the exception of the 
Cerf and the two privateers, being all in company, Commodore 
Jones manned one of the pilot-boats he had detained, and sent 
her in chase of a brig that was lying-to, to windward. On 
board this little vessel were put Mr. Lunt, the second lieu- 
tenant, and fifteen men, all of whom were out of the ship for 



1770.] NAVAL HISTORY. 91 

the rest of the day. In consequence of the loss of the two 
boats off Cape Clear, the absence of this party in the pilot- 
boat, and the number of men that had been put in prizes, the 
Richard was now left with only one sea-lieutenant, and with 
little more than three hundred souls on board, exclusively of 
the prisoners. Of the latter, there were between one and two 
hundred in the ship. 

The pilot-boat had hardly left the Bon Homme Richard, 
when the leading ships of a fleet of more than forty sail were 
seen stretching out on a bowline, from behind Flamborough 
Head, turning down towards the Straits of Dover. From pre- 
vious intelligence this fleet was immediately known to contain 
the Baltic ships, under the convoy of the Serapis 44, Captain 
Richard Pearson, and a hired ship that had been put into the 
King's service, called the Countess of Scarborough. The latter 
was commanded by Captain Piercy, and mounted 22 guns. 
As the interest of the succeeding details Will chiefly centre in 
the Serapis and the Richard, it may be well to give a more 
minute account of the actual force of the former. 

At the period of which we are now writing, forty-fours were 
usually built on two decks. Such, then, was the construction 
of this ship, which was new, and had the reputation of being 
a fast vessel. On her lower gun-deck she mounted 20 eighteen- 
pound guns ; on her upper gun-deck, 20 nine-pound guns ; and 
on her quarter-deck and forecastle, 10 six-pound guns; 
making an armament of 50 guns in the whole. She had a 
regularly trained man-of-war's crew of 320 souls, 15 of whom, 
however, were said to have been Lascars. 

When the squadron made this convoy, the men-of-war were 
in-shore, astern and to leeward, probably with a view to keep 
the merchantmen together. The bailiffs of Scarborough, per- 
ceiving the danger into which this little fleet was running, had 
sent a boat off to the Serapis to apprise her of the presence of 
a hostile force ; and Captain Pierson fired two guns, signalling 
the leading vessels to come under his lee. These orders were 
disregarded, however, the headmost ships standing out until 
they were about a league from the land. 

Commodore Jones having ascertained the character of the 
fleet in sight, showed a signal for a general chase, another to 
recall the lieutenant in the pilot-boat, and crossed royal yards 
on board the Richard. These signs of hostility alarmed the 
nearest English ships, which hurriedly tacked together, fired 
alarm guns, let fly their top-gallant sheets, and made other 



92 NAVAL HISTORY. [1T7K 

signals of the danger they were in, while they now gladly 
availed themselves of the presence of the vessels of war, to run 
to leeward, or sought shelter closer in with the land. The 
Serapis, on the contrary, signalled the Scarborough to follow, 
and hauled boldly out to sea, until she had got far enough to 
windward, when she tacked and stood in-shore again, to cover 
her convoy. 

The Alliance being much the fastest vessel of the American 
squadron, took the lead in the chase, speaking the Pallas as 
she passed. It has been proved that Captain Landais told the 
commander of the latter vessel on this occasion, that if the 
stranger proved to be a fifty, they had nothing to do but to 
endeavour to escape. His subsequent conduct fully confirmed 
this opinion, for no sooner had he run down near enough to the 
two English vessels of war, to ascertain their force, than he 
hauled up, and stood off from the land again. All this was 
not only contrary to the regular order of battle, but contrary 
to the positive command of Commodore Jones, who had kept 
the signal to form a line abroad, which should have brought 
the Alliance astern of the Richard, and the Pallas in the van. 
Just at this time, the Pallas spoke the Richard and inquired 
what station she should take, and was also directed to form 
the line. But the extraordinary movements of Captain Lan- 
dais appear to have produced some indecision in the command- 
er of the Pallas, as he, too, soon after tacked and stood off from 
the land. Captain Cottineau, however, was a brave man, and 
subsequently did his duty in the action ; and this manoeuvre 
has been explained by the Richard's hauling up suddenly for 
the land, which induced him to think that her crew had muti- 
nied and were running away with the ship. Such was the 
want of confidence that prevailed in a force so singularly com- 
posed, and such were the disadvantages under which this cele- 
brated combat was fought ! 

So far, however, from meditating retreat or mutiny, the peo- 
ple of the Bon Homme Richard had gone cheerfully to their 
quarters, although every man on board was conscious of the 
superiority of the force with which they were about to con- 
tend ; and the high unconquerable spirit of the commander 
appears to have communicated itself to the crew. 

It was now quite dark, and Commodore Jones was compel- 
led to follow the movements of the enemy by the aid of a night- 
glass. It is probable that the obscurity which prevailed add- 
ed to the indecision of the commander of the Pallas, for from 



1779.] NAVAL HISTORY. 93 

this time until the moon rose, objects at a distance were dis- 
tinguished with difficulty, and even after the moon appeared, 
with uncertainty. The Richard, however, stood steadily on, 
and about halt-past seven, she came up with the Serapis, the 
Scarborough being a short distance to leeward. The Ameri- 
can ship was to windward, and as she drew slowly near, Cap- 
tain Pearson hailed. The answer was equivocal, and both 
ships delivered their entire broadsides nearly simultaneously. 
The water being quite smooth, Commodore Jones had relied 
materially on the eighteens that were in the gun-room ; but at 
this discharge two of the six that were fired bursted, blowing 
up the deck above, and killing and wounding a large propor- 
tion of the people that were stationed below. This disaster 
caused all the heavy guns to be instantly deserted. It at once 
reduced the broadside of the Richard to about a third less than 
that of her opponent, not to include the disadvantage of the 
manner in which the force that remained was distributed 
among light guns. In short, the combat was now between a 
twelve-pounder and an eighteen-pounder frigate ; a species of 
contest in which, it has been said, we know not with what 
truth, the former had never been known to prevail. Commo- 
dore Jones informs us himself, that all his hopes, after this ac- 
cident, rested on the twelve-pounders that were under the com- 
mand of his first lieutenant. 

The Richard, having backed her topsails, exchanged seve- 
ral broadsides, when she filled again and shot ahead of the 
Serapis, which ship luffed across her stern and came up on 
the weather quarter of her antagonist, taking the wind out of 
her sails, and, in her turn, passing ahead. All this time, which 
consumed half an hour, the cannonading was close and furi- 
ous. The Scarborough now drew near, but it is uncertain 
whether she fired or not. On the side of the Americans it is 
affirmed that she raked the Richard at least once ; but, by the 
report of her own commander, it would appear that, on ac- 
count of the obscurity and the smoke, he was afraid to dis- 
charge his guns. Unwilling to lie by, and to be exposed to 
useless injury, Captain Piercy edged away from the combat- 
ants, exchanging a broadside or two, at a great distance, with 
the Alliance, and shortly afterwards was engaged at close 
quarters by the Pallas, which ship compelled him to strike, 
after a creditable resistance of about an hour. 

The Serapis kept her luff, sailing and working better than 
the Richard, and it was the intention of Captain Pearson to 



94 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

pay broad off across the latter's fore-foot, as soon as he had 
got far enough ahead ; but making the attempt, and finding 
he had not room, he put his helm hard down to keep clear of 
his adversary, when the double movement brought the two 
ships nearly in a line, the Serapis leading. By these uncer- 
tain evolutions, the English ship lost some of her way, while 
the American, having kept her sails trimmed, not only closed, 
but actually ran aboard of her antagonist, bows on, a little on 
her weather quarter. The wind being light, much time was 
consumed in these different manoeuvres ; and near an hour had 
elapsed between the firing of the first guns, and the moment 
when the vessels got foul of each other in the manner just de- 
scribed. 

The English now thought it was the intention of the Ame- 
ricans to board, and a few minutes passed in the uncertainty 
which such an expectation would create ; but the positions of 
the vessels were not favourable for either party to pass into 
the opposing ship. There being at this moment a perfect ces- 
sation of the firing, Captain Pearson demanded, " Have you 
.struck your colours'?" " I have not yet begun to fight," was 
the answer. 

The yards of the Richard were braced aback, and, the sails 
of the Serapis being full, the ships separated. As soon as far 
enough asunder, the Serapis put her helm hard down, laid all 
aback forward, shivered her after-sails, and wore short round 
on her heel, or was box-hauled, with a view, most probably, 
of luffing up athwart the bow of her enemy, in order to again 
rake her. Commodore Jones, by this time, was conscious of 
the hopelessness of success against so much heavier metal, 
and after having backed astern some distance, he filled on the 
other tack, luffing up with the intention of meeting the enemy 
as he came to the wind, and of laying him athwart hawse. In 
the smoke one pai'ty or the other miscalculated the distance, 
for the two vessels came foul again, the bowsprit of the Eng- 
lish ship passing over the poop of the American. As neither 
had much way, the collision did but little injury, and Commo- 
dore Jones, with his own hands, immediately lashed the ene- 
my's head-gear to his mizzen-mast. The pressure on the after- 
sails of the Serapis, which vessel was nearly before the wind 
at the time, brought her hull round, and the two ships gradu- 
ally fell close alongside of each other, head and stern, the jib- 
boom of the Serapis giving way with the strain. A spare an- 
chor of the English ship now hooked in the quarter of the 



1779] NAVAL HISTORY. 95 

American, and additional lashings were got out on board the 
latter to secure her in this position. 

Captain Pearson, who was as much aware of his advantage 
in a regular combat as his opponent could be of his own infe- 
riority, no sooner perceived the vessels foul, than he dropped 
an anchor, in the hope that the Richard would drift clear of 
him. But such an expectation was perfectly futile, as the 
yards were interlocked, the hulls were pressed close against 
each other, there were lashings fore and aft, and even the orna- 
mental work aided in holding the ships together. When the 
cables of the Serapis took the strain, the vessels slowly tend- 
ed, with the bows of the Serapis and the stern of the Richard 
to the tide. At this instant the English made an attempt to 
board, but were repulsed with trifling loss. 

All this time the battle raged. The lower ports of the Se- 
rapis having been closed to prevent boarding, as the vessel 
swung, they were now blown off, in order to allow the guns to 
be run out ; and cases actually occurred in which the rammers 
had to be thrust into the ports of the opposite ship in order to 
be entered into the muzzles of their proper guns. It is evident 
that such a conflict must have been of short duration. In ef- 
fect, the heavy metal of the Serapis, in one or two discharges, 
cleared all before it, and the main-deck guns of the Richard 
were in a great measure abandoned. Most of the people went 
on the upper-deck, and a great number collected on the fore- 
castle, where they were safe from the fire of the enemy, con- 
tinuing to fight by throwing grenades and using muskets. 

In this stage of the combat, the Serapis was tearing her an- 
tagonist to pieces below, almost without resistance from her 
enemy's batteries ; only two guns on the quarter-deck, and 
three or four of the twelves, being worked at all. To the for- 
mer, by shifting a gun from the larboard side, Commodore 
Jones succeeded in adding a third, all of which were used with 
effect, under his immediate inspection, to the close of the ac- 
tion. He could not muster force enough to get over a second 
gun. But the combat would now have soon terminated, had 
it not been for the courage and activity of the people aloft. 
Strong parties had been placed in the tops, and, at the end of a 
short contest, the Americans had driven every man belonging 
to the enemy below ; after which they kept up so animated a 
fire, on the quarter-deck of the Serapis in particular, as to 
drive nearly every man off it, that was not shot down. 

Thus, while the English had the battle nearly to themselves 



96 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

below, their enemies had the control above the upper-deck. 
Having cleared the tops of the Serapis, some American sea- 
men lay out on the Richard's main-yard, and began to throw 
hand-grenades upon the two upper decks of the English ship ; 
the men on the forecastle of their own vessel seconding these 
efforts, by casting the same combustibles through the ports of 
the Serapis. At length one man, in particular, became so 
hardy as to take his post on the extreme end of the yard, 
whence, provided with a bucket filled with combustibles, and a 
match, he dropped the grenades with so much precision, that 
one passed through the main hatch- way. The powder-boys 
of the Serapis had got more cai'tridges up than were wanted, 
and, in their hurry, they had carelessly laid a row of them on 
the main-deck, in a line with the guns. The grenade just 
mentioned set fire to some loose powder that was lying near, 
and the flash passed from cartridge to cartridge, beginning 
abreast of the main-mast, and running quite aft. 

The effect. of this explosion was awful. More than twenty 
men were instantly killed, many of them being left with no- 
thing on them but the collars and wristbands of their shirts, and 
the waistbands of their duck trowsers ; while the official returns 
of the ship, a week after the action, show that there were no 
less than thirty-eight wounded on board, still alive, who had 
been injured in this manner, and of whom thirty were then said 
to be in great danger. Captain Pearson described this explo- 
sion as having destroyed nearly all the men at the five or six 
aftermost guns. On the whole, near sixty of the enemy's peo- 
ple must have been instantly disabled by this sudden blow. 

The advantage thus obtained, by the coolness and intrepi- 
dity of the topmen, in a great measure restored the chances of 
the combat, and, by lessening the fire of the enemy, enabled 
Commodore Jones to increase his. In the same degree that it 
encouraged the crew of the Richard, it diminished the hopes of 
the people of the Serapis. One of the guns under the imme- 
diate inspection of Commodore Jones had been pointed some 
time against the main-mast of his enemy, while the two others 
had seconded the fire of the tops, with grape and canister. 
Kept below decks by this double attack, where a scene of fright- 
ful horror was present in the agonies of the wounded, and the 
effects of the explosion, the spirits of the English began to 
droop, and there was a moment when a trifle would have in- 
duced them to submit. From this despondency they were tern- 



1779.] NAVAL HISTORY. 97 

porarily raised, by one of those unlooked-for events that cha- 
racterise the vicissitudes of battle. 

After exchanging the ineffective and distant broadsides, 
already mentioned, with the Scarborough, the Alliance had 
kept standing off and on, to leeward of the two principal ships, 
out of the direction of their shot, when, about half-past eight 
she appeared crossing the stern of the Serapis and the bow of 
the Richard, firing at such a distance as to render it impossible 
to say which vessel would suffer the most. As soon as she 
had drawn out of the range of her own guns, her helm was 
put up, and she ran down near a mile to leeward, hovering 
about until the firing had ceased between the Pallas and the 
Scarborough, when she came within hail and spoke both of 
these vessels. Captain Cottineau of the Pallas earnestly en- 
treated Captain Landais to take possession of his prize, and 
allow him to go to the assistance of the Richard, or to stretch 
up to windward in the Alliance himself, and succour the Com- 
modore. 

After some delay, Captain Landais took the important duty 
of assisting his consort, into his own hands, and making two 
long stretches, under his topsails, he appeared, about the time 
at which we have arrived in the narration of the combat, di- 
rectly to windward of the two ships, with the head of the Al- 
liance to the westward. Here the latter ship once more opened 
her fire, doing equal damage, at least, to friend and foe. Keep- 
ing away a little, and still continuing her fire, the Alliance was 
soon on the larboard quarter of the Richard, and, it is even 
affirmed, that her guns were discharged until she had got nearly 
abeam. 

Fifty voices now hailed to tell the people of the Alliance that 
they were firing into the wrong ship, and three lanterns were 
shown, in a line, on the offside of the Richard, which was the 
regular signal of recognition for a night action. An officer 
was directed to hail, and to command Captain Landais to lay 
the enemy aboard ; and the question being put whether the 
order was comprehended, an answer was given in the affirma- 
tive. 

As the moon had been up some time, it was impossible not 
to distinguish between the vessels, the Richard being all black, 
while the Serapis had yellow sides ; and the impression seems 
to have been general in the former vessel, that she had been 
attacked intentionally. At the discharge of the first guns of 
the Alliance, the people left one or two of the twelves on board 
9 



98 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

the Richard, which they had begun to fight again, saying that 
the Englishmen in the Alliance had got possession of the ship, 
and were helping the enemy. It appears that this discharge 
dismounted a gun or two, extinguished several lanterns on the 
main deck, and did a great deal of damage aloft. 

The Alliance hauled oft' to some distance, keeping always 
on the off-side of the Richard, and soon after she reappeared 
edging down on the larboard beam of her consort, hauling up 
athwart the bows of that ship and the stern of her antagonist. 
On this occasion, it is affirmed that her fire recommenced, 
when, by possibility, the shot could only reach the Serapis 
through the Richard. Ten or twelve men appear to have 
been killed and wounded on the forecastle of the latter ship, 
which was crowded at the time, and among them was an offi- 
cer of the name of Caswell, who, with his dying breath, main- 
tained that he had received his wound by the fire of the 
Richard's consort. 

After crossing the bows of the Richard, and the stern of 
the Serapis, delivering grape as she passed, the Alliance ran 
off to leeward, again standing off and on, doing nothing, for 
the remainder of the combat. 

The fire of the Alliance added greatly to the leaks of the 
Richard, which ship, by this time, had received so much water 
through the shot-holes, as to begin to settle. It is even affirmed 
by many witnesses, that the most dangerous shot-holes on 
board the Richard, were under her larboard bow, and larboard 
counter, in places where they could not have been received 
from the fire of the Serapis. This evidence, however, is not 
unanswerable, as it has been seen that the Serapis luffed up on 
the larboard-quarter of the Richard in the commencement of 
the action, and, forging ahead, was subsequently on her lar- 
board bow, endeavouring to cross her fore-foot. It is certainly 
possible that shot may have struck the Richard in the places 
mentioned, on these occasions, and that, as the ship settled in 
the water, from other leaks, the holes then made may have 
suddenly increased the danger. On the other hand, if the Al- 
liance did actually fire while on the bow and quarter of the 
Richard, as would appear by a mass of uncontradicted testi- 
mony, the dangerous shot-holes may very well have come 
from that ship. 

Let the injuries have been received from what quarter they 
might, soon after the Alliance had run to leeward, an alarm 
was spread in the Richard that the ship was sinking. Both 



1779] NAVAL HISTORY. 1)0 

vessels had been on fire several times, and some difficulty had 
been experienced in extinguishing the flames ; but here was a 
new enemy to contend with, and, as the information came from 
the carpenter, whose duty it was to sound the pump- wells, it 
produced a good deal of consternation. The Richard had 
more than a hundred English prisoners on board, and the 
master-at-arms, in the hurry of the moment, let them all up 
from below, in order to save their lives. In the confusion, the 
master of the letter of marque, that had been taken off the 
north of Scotland, passed through a port of the Richard into 
one of the Serapis, when he informed Captain Pearson, that 
a few minutes would probably decide the battle in his favour, 
or carry his enemy down, he himself having been liberated in 
order to save his life. Just at this instant the gunner, who 
had little to attend to at his quarters, came on deck, and 
not perceiving Commodore Jones, or Mr. Dale, both of whom 
were occupied with the liberated prisoners, and believing the 
master, the only other superior he had in the ship, to be dead, 
he ran up on the poop to haul down the colours. Fortunately 
the flag-staff had been shot away, and, the ensign already 
hanging in the water, he had no other means of letting his 
intention be known, than by calling out for quarter. Captain 
Pearson now hailed to inquire if the Richard demanded quar- 
ter, and was answered by Commodore Jones himself, in the 
negative. It is probable that the reply was not heard, or, if 
heard, supposed to come from an unauthorised source ; for, en- 
couraged by what he had learned from the escaped prisoner, 
by the cry, and by the confusion that prevailed in the Rich- 
ard, the English captain directed his boarders to be called 
away, and, as soon as mustered, they were ordered to take 
possession of the prize. Some of the men actually got on the 
gunwale of the latter ship, but finding boarders ready to repel 
boarders, they made a precipitate retreat. All this time, the 
top-men were not idle, and the enemy were soon driven below 
again with loss. 

In the mean while, Mr. Dale, who no longer had a gun 
that could be fought, mustered the prisoners at the pumps, 
turning their consternation to account, and probably keeping 
the Richard afloat by the very blunder that had come so near 
losing her. The ships were now on fire again, and both par- 
ties, with the exception of a few guns on each side, ceased 
fighting, in order to subdue this common enemy. In the 
course of the combat, the Serapis is said to have been set on 



100 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

fire no less than twelve times, while, towards its close, as will 
be seen in the sequel, the Richard was burning all the while. 

As soon as order was once more restored in the Richard, 
her chances of success began greatly to increase, while the 
English, driven under cover, almost to a man, appear to 
have lost, in a great degree, the hope of victory. Their fire 
materially slackened, while the Richard again brought a few 
more guns to bear ; the main-mast of the Serapis began to 
totter, and her resistance, in general, to lessen. About an 
hour after the explosion, or between three hours and three 
hours and a half after the first gun was fired, and between two 
hours and two hours and a half after the ships were lashed to- 
gether, Captain Pearson hauled down the colours of the Sera- 
pis with his own hands, the men refusing to expose themselves 
to the fire of the Richard's tops. 

When it was known that the colours of the English had 
been lowered, Mr. Dale got upon the gunwale of the Richard, 
and laying hold of the main-brace-pendant, he swung himself 
on board the Serapis. On the quarter-deck of the latter he 
found Captain Pearson, almost alone, that gallant officer having 
maintained his post, throughout the whole of this close and 
murderous conflict. Just as Mr. Dale addressed the English 
captain, the first lieutenant of the Serapis came up from below 
to inquire if the Richard had struck, her fire having entirely 
ceased. Mr. Dale now gave the English officer to understand 
that he was mistaken in the position of things, the Serapis 
having struck to the Richard, and not the Richard to the Se- 
rapis. Captain Pearson confirming this account, his subordi- 
nate acquiesced, offering to go below and silence the guns that 
were still playing upon the American ship. To this Mr. Dale 
would not consent, but both the English officers were imme- 
diately passed on board the Richard. The firing was then 
stopped below. Mr. Dale had been closely followed to the 
quarter-deck of the Serapis, by Mr. Mayrant, a midshipman, 
and a party of boarders, and as the fcrmer struck the quarter- 
deck of the prize, he was run through the thigh, by a boarding- 
pike, in the hands of a man in the waist, who was ignorant of 
the surrender. Thus did the close of this remarkable combat 
resemble its other features in singularity, blood being shed and 
shot fired, while the boarding officer was in amicable discourse 
with his prisoners ! 

As soon as Captain Pearson was on board the Richard, and 
Mr. Dale had received a proper number of hands in the prize, 



1779.] NAVAL HISTORY. 101 

Commodore Jones ordered the lashings to be cut, and the ves- 
sels to be separated, hailing the Serapis, as the Richard drifted 
from alongside of her, and ordering her to follow his own ship. 
Mr. Dale, now had the head sails of the Serapis braced sharp 
aback, and the wheel put down, but the vessel refused to answer 
her helm or her canvass. Surprised and excited at this cir- 
cumstance, the gallant lieutenant sprang from the binnacle on 
which he had seated himself, and fell his length on the deck. 
He had been severely wounded in the leg by a splinter, and 
until this moment was ignorant of the injury ! He was replaced 
on the binnacle, when the master of the Serapis came up and 
acquainted him with the fact that the ship was anchored. 

By this time, Mr. Lunt, the second lieutenant, who had been 
absent in the pilot boat, had got alongside, and was on board 
the prize. To this officer Mr. Dale now consigned the charge 
of the Serapis, the cable was cut, and the ship followed the 
Richard, as ordered. 

Although this protracted and bloody combat had now ended, 
neither the danger nor the labours of the victors were over. 
The Richard was both sinking and on fire. The flames had 
got within the ceiling, and extended so far that they menaced 
the magazine, while all the pumps, in constant use, could barely 
keep the water at the same level. Had it depended on the ex- 
hausted people of the two combatants, the ship must have soon 
sunk, but the other vessels of the squadron sent hands on board 
the Richard, to assist at the pumps. So imminent did the 
danger from the fire become, that all the powder was got on 
deck, to prevent an explosion. In this manner did the night 
of the battle pass, with one gang always at the pumps, and 
another contending with the flames, until about ten o'clock in 
the forenoon of the 24th, when the latter were got under. After 
the action, eight or ten Englishmen in the Richard, stole a 
boat from the Serapis, and ran away with it, landing at Scar- 
borough. Several of the men were so alarmed with the con- 
dition of their ship, as to jump overboard and swim to the 
other vessels. 

When the day dawned, an examination was made into the 
condition of the Richard. Abaft, on a line with those guns of 
the Serapis that had not been disabled by the explosion, the 
timbers were found to be nearly all beaten in, or beaten out, 
for in this respect there was little difference between the two 
sides of the ship; and it was said that her poop and upper 
decks would have fallen into the gun-room, but for a few fut- 
9* 



102 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

locks that had been missed. Indeed, so large was the vacuum, 
that most of the shot fked from this part of the Serapis, at the 
close of the action, must have gone through the Richard with- 
out touching any thing. The rudder was cut from the stern- 
post, and the transoms were nearly driven out of her. All 
the after part of the ship, in particular, that was below the 
quarter-deck, was torn to pieces, and nothing had saved those 
stationed on the quarter-deck, but the impossibility of suffi- 
ciently elevating guns that almost touched their object. 

The result of this examination was to convince every one 
of the impossibility of carrying the Richard into port, in the 
event of its coming on to blow. Commodore Jones was ad- 
vised to remove his wounded while the weather continued mo- 
derate, and he reluctantly gave the order to commence. The 
following night and the morning of the succeeding day were 
employed in executing this imperious duty; and about nine 
o'clock, the officer of the Pallas, who was in charge of the 
ship, with a party at the pumps, finding that the water had 
reached the lower deck, reluctantly abandoned her. About 
ten, the Bon Homme Richard wallowed heavily, gave a roll, 
and settled slowly into the sea, bows foremost. 

The Serapis suffered much less than the Richard, the guns 
of the latter having been so light, and so soon silenced ; but 
no sooner were the ships separated, than her main-mast 
fell, bringing down with it the mizzen-top-mast. Though 
jury-masts were erected, the ship drove about, nearly helpless, 
in the North Sea, until the 6th of October, when the remains 
of the squadron, with the two prizes, got into the Texel, the 
port to which they had been ordered to l'epair. 

In the combat between the Richard and the Serapis, an unu- 
sual number of lives was lost, though no regular authentic 
report appears to have been given by either side. Captain 
Pearson states the loss of the Richard at about 300 in killed 
and wounded ; a total that would have included very nearly 
all hands, and which was certainly a great exaggeration, or at 
least a great mistake. According to a muster-roll of the offi- 
cers and people of the Richard, excluding the .marines, which 
is still in existence, 42 men were killed, or died of their wounds 
shortly after the battle, and 41 were wounded. This would 
make a total of 83, for this portion of the crew, which on the 
roll amounted to 227 souls. But many of the persons named 
on this list are known not to have been in the action at all ; 
such as neither of the junior lieutenants, and some thirty men 



1779.] NAVAL HISTORY. 103 

that were with them, besides those absent in prizes. As there 
were a few volunteers on board, however, who were not mus- 
tered, if we set down 200 as the number of the portion of the 
regular crew that was in the action, we shall probably not be 
far from the truth. By estimating the soldiers that remained 
on board at 120, and observing the same proportion for their 
casualties, we shall get 49 for the result, which will make a 
total of 132, as the entire loss of the Richard. It is known, 
however, that, in the commencement of the action, the soldiers, 
or marines, suffered out of proportion to the rest of the crew, 
and general report having made the gross loss of the Richard 
150 men, we are disposed to believe that it was not far from 
the fact. 

Captain Pearson reported a part of his loss at 117 men, 
admitting at the same time, that there were many killed and 
wounded whose names he could not discover. It is probable 
that the loss of men, in the two ships, was about equal, and 
that nearly or quite half of all those who were engaged, were 
either killed or wounded. Commodore Jones, in a private let- 
ter, written some time after the occurrence, gives an opinion, 
however, that the loss of the Richard was less than that of the 
Serapis. That two vessels of so much force should lie lashed 
together more than two hours, making use of artillery, mus- 
ketry, and all the other means of annoyance known to the 
warfare of the day, and not do even greater injury to the 
crews, strikes us with astonishment ; but the fact must be 
ascribed to the peculiarities of the combat, which, by driving 
most of the English under cover, and by keeping the Ameri- 
cans above the line of fire, protected each party from the mis- 
siles of the other. As it was, it proved a murderous and 
sanguinary conflict, though its duration would probably have 
been much shorter, and its character still more bloody, but for 
these unusual circumstances. 



104 NAVAL HISTORY. [1780. 



CHAPTER X. 

The arrival of Paul Jones, in Holland, excited a great deal 
of interest in the diplomatic world. The English demanded 
that the prisoners should be released, and that Jones himself 
should be given up as a pirate. The Dutch government, 
though well disposed to favour the Americans, was not pre- 
pared for war, and it was induced to temporise. A long cor- 
respondence followed, which terminated in one of those politi- 
cal expedients that are so common, and in which the pains 
and penalties of avowing the truth are avoided by means of 
a mystification. The Serapis, which had been re-masted and 
equipped, was transferred to France, as was the Scarborough, 
while Commodore Jones took command of the Alliance, Cap- 
tain Landais having been suspended, and was ordered to quit 
the country. 

The Alliance went to sea on the 27th of December, 1779, 
and reached the roads of Groix again, in safety, on the 10th 
of February, 1780. She passed down the Channel, was near 
enough to the squadron in the Downs to examine its force, was 
several times chased, and made a short cruise in the Bay of 
Biscay, after having touched in Spain. Captain Conyngham, 
who had been captured in a privateer and escaped, joined the 
Alliance, and went round to 1 Orient in the ship. 

Although it will be anticipating the events of another year, 
we shall finish the history of ihis vessel, so far as she was 
connected with the officer who first commanded her, Captain 
Landais. This gentleman had been sent for to Paris, to ac- 
count for his conduct to the American minister, and subse- 
quently his claim to command the Alliance was referred to 
Mr. Arthur Lee, who was on the spot, and who had long been 
in Europe, as a conspicuous agent of the government. The 
decision of this commissioner restored the Alliance to Captain 
Landais, on the ground that his command having been given 
to him by the highest authority of the country, a vote of Con- 
gress, he could not legally be deprived of it by any subordinate 
authority. In June, Captain Landais sailed in the ship for 
America, where she was given to an officer better fitted to 
show her excellent qualities, and who, in the end, succeeded in 



1780.] NAVAL HISTORY. 105 

redeeming her character. During the passage home, Captain 
Landais was deposed from the command, under the idea that 
he was insane, and soon after he was discharged from the 
navy. It is thought that the absence of Commodore Jones, 
alone, prevented his receiving severer punishment. 

Commodore Jones, anxious to get back to America, took 
command of the Ariel 20, a little ship that the king of France 
lent to his allies, to aid in transporting military stores ; and 
in this vessel, with a portion of the officers and men who had 
belonged to the Richard, he sailed from under Groix on the 
7th of September. When a day or two out, the Ariel encoun- 
tered a severe gale, in which she came near being lost. The 
ship was so pressed upon by the wind, that her lower yard- 
arms frequently dipped, and though an anchor was let go, she 
refused to tend to it. In order to keep her from foundering, 
the fore-mast was cut away, and the heel of the main-mast 
having worked out of the step, that spar followed, bringing 
down with it the mizzen-mast. 

Returning to I'Orient to refit, the Ariel sailed a second time 
for America, on the 18th of December. During the passage, 
she fell in with an enemy of about her own size, in the night, 
and after much conversation, a short combat followed, when 
the English ship intimated that she had struck, but taking ad- 
vantage of her position, she made sail and escaped. Some 
unaccountable mistake was made by, or an extraordinary hal- 
lucination appears to have come over Commodore Jones, in 
reference to this affair ; for, in his journal, he speaks of his 
enemy as having been an English twenty-gun ship called the 
Triumph, and the result as a victory. The Triumph, if such 
was truly the name of the English ship, was probably a letter 
of marque, unable to resist a vessel of war of any force, and 
though not free from the imputation of treachery, she escaped 
by out-manoeuvring the Ariel. On the 18th of February, 
1781, after an absence of more than three years, Paul Jones 
reached Philadelphia in safety. 

Before we return to the American seas, and to the more 
regular incidents of the year 1779, we will add that, after an 
inquiry into the conduct of Captain Jones, as it was connected 
with all his proceedings in Europe, Congress gave him a vote 
of thanks, and, by a formal resolution, bestowed on him the 
command of the America 74, the only one of the six ships of 
that class that was ever laid down under the law of 1776. 
The America never got to sea under the national colours, Con- 



106 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

gress presenting the ship to their ally, Louis XVI., to replace 
the Magnifique 74, which had been lost in the port of Boston. 

To return to the more regular order of events. 

During the summer of 1779, the Deane 32, Captain Samuel 
Nicholson, and the Boston 24, Captain Tucker, made a cruise 
in company. In August of that year, these two ships took 
many prizes, though no action of moment occurred. Among 
others were the Sandwich (a packet,) 16, two privateers, with 
the Glencairn 20, and the Thorn 18. The last of these ves- 
sels was a man-of-war. 

In the spring of this year, the Providence 12, Captain 
Hacker, took a vessel of equal force, called the Diligent, after 
a sharp action. The particulars of this engagement are lost, 
though they are known to have been highly creditable to the 
American officer. The Diligent appears to have been taken 
into the service. 

A bloody action also occurred, about the same time, between 
the Massachusetts state-cruiser Hazard 14, Captain John Foster 
Williams, and the Active 14, a vessel that Schomberg states to 
have belonged to the king. The combat lasted half an hour, 
and was determined in favour of the Hazard. The Active is said 
to have had 33 killed and wounded, and the Hazard 8. Shortly 
after this handsome affair, Captain Williams was appointed to 
the ship Protector 20, belonging to the same state, and in June 
he had a severe action with one of those heavy letters of 
marque it was so much the custom to send to sea, at the period 
of which we are writing, called the Duff; a ship said to have 
been quite equal in force to the Protector. After a sharp con- 
test of more than an hour, the Duff blew up. The Protector 
succeeded in saving 55 of her crew, having had 6 of her own 
people killed and wounded in the battle. 

The enemy having established a post on the Penobscot, and 
placed in it a strong garrison, the State of Massachusetts de- 
termined to drive them from its territory, without calling upon 
Congress for assistance. For this purpose, Massachusetts 
made a draft of 1500 of her own militia, and got an order for 
the U.S. ship Warren 32, Captain Saltonstall, the Diligent 14, 
Captain Brown, and the Providence 12, Captain Hacker, to 
join the expedition ; these being the only regular cruisers em- 
ployed on the occasion. Three vessels belonging to Massa- 
chusetts were also put under the orders of Captain Saltonstall, 
and a force consisting of thirteen privateers was added. In 



1770.] NAVAL HISTORY. 107 

addition there were many transports and store-vessels. Gen- 
eral Lovel commanded the brigade. 

This armament made its appearance off the Penobscot on 
the 25th of July. While the militia were making their descent, 
the Warren, and another vessel of some force, engaged the 
enemy's works. The cannonading was severe, and the War- 
ren is said to have had 30 men killed and wounded, in the 
action with the batteries, and in landing the troops. The latter 
duty, however, was successfully performed by General Lovel, 
with a loss of about one hundred men, including all arms. 
Finding it impossible to carry the place with his present force, 
the commanding officer now sent for reinforcements. On the 
13th of August, while waiting for a return of the messenger, 
information was received from the Tyrannicide, the look-out 
vessel, that Sir George Collier, in the Rainbow 44, accom- 
panied by four other vessels of war, was entering the bay. 
The troops immediately re-embarked, and a general, hurried, 
and confused flight ensued. The British squadron, consisting 
of five vessels of war, quickly appeared, and a pursuit up the 
river was commenced, and continued for a long distance. The 
enemy soon got near enough to use their chase guns, and the 
fire was returned by the Americans. It was undoubtedly the 
wish of Captain Saltonstall, to reach the shallow waters before 
he was overtaken ; but finding this impracticable, he ran his 
ship ashore, and set her on fire. Others followed this example, 
and most of the vessels were destroyed, though three or four 
fell into the hands of the enemy. 

Captain Saltonstall was much, and, in some respects, per- 
haps, justly censured, for this disaster, though it is to be feared 
that it arose more from that habit of publicity, which is com- 
mon to all countries much influenced by popular feeling, than 
from any other cause. Had a due regard been paid to secresy, 
time might have been gained in that remote region, to effect 
the object, before a sufficient force could be collected to go 
against the assailants. In a military sense, the principal faults 
appear to have been a miscalculation of means, at the com- 
mencement, and a neglect to raise such batteries as might have 
protected the shipping against the heavy vessels of the enemy. 
It could not surely have been thought that privateers, armed 
with light guns, were able to resist two-deckers ; and the fact 
that the English had a fleet of such vessels on the coast was 
generally known. 

The disastrous result of this expedition inflicted a severe blow 



108 NAVAL HISTORY. [1780. 

on American nautical enterprises. Many privateers and state 
vessels, that had been successful against the enemy's com- 
merce, were either captured or destroyed. Among the vessels 
blown up, was the Providence 12, one of the first cruisers ever 
sent to sea by the United States, and which had become noted 
for exploits greatly exceeding what might have been expected 
from her force. 



CHAPTER XI. 

At the commencement of the year 1780, the French fleet 
under Comte d'Estaing retired to the West-Indies, leaving the 
entire American coast at the command of the British. Sir 
Henry Clinton profited by the opportunity to sail against 
Charleston, with a strong force in ships and troops, which 
town he reduced after a short but vigorous siege. Several 
American ships of war were in the harbour at the time, under 
the command of Captain Whipple, and finding escape impos- 
sible, this officer carried his squadron into the Cooper, sunk 
several vessels at its mouth, and landed all the guns and crews 
for the defence of the town, with the exception of those of one 
ship. The Providence 28, Captain Whipple, the Queen of 
France 28, Captain Rathburne, the Boston 24, Captain Tuck- 
er, the Ranger 18, Captain Simpson, and several smaller ves- 
sels, fell into the hands of the enemy. 

The English government, by this time, found the system of 
privateering so destructive to their navigation, that it had come 
to the determination of refusing to exchange any more of the 
seamen that fell into their power. By acting on this policy, 
they collected a large body of prisoners, sending them to Eng- 
land in their return-ships, and sensibly affected the nautical 
enterprises of the Americans, who, of course, had but a limit- 
ed number of officers and men fit to act on the ocean. 

By the fall of Charleston, too, the force of the regular Ame- 
rican marine, small as it had always been, was still more re- 
duced. Of the frigates, the Alliance 32, the Hague (late 
Deane) 32, Confederacy 32, Trumbull 28, and a ship or two 
bought or borrowed in Europe, appear to be all that were left, 



17C0J NAVAL HISTORY. 109 

while the smaller cruisers, like the pitcher that is broken by 
going too often to the well, had not fared much better. 

In consequence of all these losses, the advanced state of the 
war, and the French alliance, which had brought the fleets of 
France upon the American coast, Congress appears to have 
thought any great efforts for increasing the marine unneces- 
sary at the moment. The privateers and state cruisers were 
out and active as usual, though much reduced in numbers, and 
consequently in general efficiency. In contrast to these di- 
minished efforts we find the British Parliament authorizing the 
ministry to keep no less than 85,000 men employed in the 
English navy, including the marines. 

The first action of moment that occured this year between 
any United States' vessel and the enemy, nevertheless, has 
the reputation of having been one of the most hotly and obsti- 
nately contested combats of the war. June 2d, 1780, the 
Trumbull 28, then under the command of Captain James Ni- 
cholson, the senior officer of the navy, while cruising in lat. 
35° 54', long. 66° W., made a strange sail to windward from 
the mast-heads. The Trumbull immediately furled all her 
canvass, in the hope of drawing the stranger down upon her 
before she should be seen. At eleven, the stranger was made 
out to be a large ship, steering for the Trumbull's quarter ; 
but soon hauling more astern, sail was got on the American 
ship to close. After some manoeuvring, in order to try the 
rate of sailing and to get a view of the stranger's broadside, 
the Trumbull took in her light sails, hauled up her courses, 
the chase all this time betraying no desire to avoid an action, 
but standing directly for her adversary. When near enough, 
the Trumbull filled, and outsailing the stranger, she easily 
fetched to windward of her. The chase now fired three guns, 
showed English colours, and edged away, under short sail, 
evidently with an intention to pursue her course. Captain Ni- 
cholson harangued his men, and then made sail to bring his 
ship up with the enemy. When about a hundred yards dis- 
tant, the English ship fired a broadside, and the action began 
in good earnest. For two hours and a half the vessels lay 
nearly abeam of each other, giving and receiving broadsides 
without intermission. At no time were they half a cable's 
length asunder, and more than once the yards nearly inter- 1 
locked. Twice was the Trumbull set on fire by the wads of 
her opponent, and once the enemy suffered in the same way. 
10 



110 NAVAL HISTORY. [1780, 

At last the fire of the Englishman slackened sensibly, until it 
nearly ceased. 

Captain Nicholson now felt satisfied that he should make a 
prize of his antagonist, and was encouraging his people with 
that hope, when a report was brought to him, that the main- 
mast was tottering, and that if it went while near the enemy, 
his ship would probably be the sacrifice. Anxious to secure 
the spar, sail was made, and the Trumbull shot ahead again, 
her superiority of sailing being very decided. She was soon 
clear of her adversary, who made no effort to molest her. 
The vessels, however, were scarcely musket-shot apart, when 
the main and mizzen top-masts of the Trumbull went over the 
side, and, in spite of every effort to secure them, spar after 
spar came down, until nothing was left but the fore-mast. 
Under such circumstances, the enemy, who manifested no 
desire to profit by her advantage, went off on her proper 
course. Before she was out of sight, her main top-mast also 
was seen to fall. 

It was afterwards ascertained that the ship engaged by the 
Trumbull was a letter of marque called the Watt, Captain 
Coulthard, a vessel of size, that had been expressly equipped 
to fight her way. Her force is not mentioned in the English 
accounts, but her commander, in his narrative of the affair, 
in which he claims the victory, admits his loss to have been 
92 men, in killed and wounded. Captain Nicholson estimates 
her force at 34 or 36 guns, mostly twelve-pounders ; and he 
states that of the Trumbull to have been 24 twelve-pounders 
and 6 sixes, with 199 souls on board when the action com- 
menced. The Trumbull lost 39, in killed and wounded, 
among the former of whom were two of her lieutenants. 

In the way of a regular cannonade, this combat is generally 
thought to have been the severest that was fought in the war 
of the Revolution. There is no question of the superiority of 
the Watt in every thing but sailing, she having been essen- 
tially the largest and strongest ship, besides carrying more 
guns and men than her opponent. Owing to the difficulty of 
obtaining seamen, which has been so often mentioned, the 
Trumbull's crew was composed, in a great degree, of raw 
hands, and Captain Nicholson states particularly that many 
of his people were suffering under sea-sickness when they 
went to their guns. 

This action was not followed by another, of any importance, 
in which a government cruiser was concerned, until the month 



1781.] NAVAL HISTORY. Ill 

of October, when the U. S. sloop of war Saratoga 16, Captain 
Young, fell in with, and captured a ship and two brigs, the 
former, and one of the latter of which, were well armed. The 
conflict with the ship, which was called the Charming Molly, 
was conducted with a spirit and promptitude that are deserv- 
ing of notice. Running alongside, Captain Young delivered 
his fire, and threw fifty men on the enemy's decks, when a 
fierce but short struggle ensued, that ended in the capture of 
the British ship. Lieutenant Joshua Barney, afterwards so 
distinguished in the service, led the boarders on this occasion ; 
and the crew that he overcame is said to have been nearly 
double in numbers to his own party. 

After making these and one other capture, the Saratoga 
made sail for the Capes of the Delaware, with the intention of 
convoying her prizes into port. The following day, however, 
the convoy was chased by the Intrepid 74, Captain Molloy, 
which ship retook all the prizes, but was unable to get the 
Saratoga under her guns. It is said, and we find no evidence 
to contradict it, that the Saratoga never returned to port, the 
vessel foundering, and her crew perishing at sea, unheard of. 

The brevity of the regular naval annals of the three last 
years of the war, compels us to compress their incidents into 
a single chapter. 

It has been stated already that Captain Landais was dis- 
missed from the service soon after his return home, when the 
command of the Alliance 32 was given to Captain John Barry, 
the officer who had made so gallant a resistance in the Ra- 
leigh, not long previously. In February, 1781, Captain Barry 
sailed from Boston for France, in command of this favourite 
ship, with Colonel Laurens on board, which well-known and 
much-regretted young officer was charged with an important 
mission to the French court. On the outward passage, the 
Alliance captured a small privateer called the Alert, but no 
event of any moment occurred. After landing Mr. Laurens, 
the frigate sailed from l'Orient on a cruise, with the Marquis 
de la Fayette 40, bound to America with stores, in company. 
Three days afterwards, or on the 2d of April, 1781, they fell 
in with and captured two Guernsey privateers, one of which, 
the Mars, is said to have been a heavy vessel of 26 guns and 
112 men, and the other, the Minerva, to have had an arma- 
ment of 10 guns, and a crew of 55 souls. Neither of these 
cruisers appears to have made any resistance. 

After this success, the Alliance parted company with her 



112 NAVAL HISTORY. [1781. 

consort and the prizes, and continued to cruise until the 28th 
of May, when she made two sail, that were standing directly 
for her. It was late in the day, and the strangers, when near 
enough to remain in sight during the darkness hauled up on 
the same course with the Alliance, evidently with a view to 
defer the action until morning. At daylight on the succeed- 
ing day, it was nearly a dead calm, and when the mist cleared 
away, the two strangers were seen at no great distance, with 
English colours flying. They were now distinctly made out 
to be a sloop of war apparently of 16 guns, and a brig of 14. 
The sea was perfectly smooth, and there being no wind, the 
two light cruisers were enabled to sweep up, and to select their 
positions, while the Alliance lay almost a log on the water, 
without steerage way. Owing to these circumstances, it was 
noon before the vessels were near enough to hail, when the 
action commenced. For more than an hour the Alliance 
fought to great disadvantage, the enemy having got on her 
quarters, where only a few of the aftermost guns would bear 
on them. The advantage possessed by the English vessels, 
in consequence of the calm, at one time, indeed, gave their 
people the greatest hopes of success, for they had the fight 
principally to themselves. While things were in this unfortu- 
nate state, Captain Barry received a grape-shot through his 
shoulder, and was carried below. This additional and dis- 
heartening calamity added to the disadvantages of the Ameri- 
cans, who were sufFering under the close fire of two spirited 
and persevering antagonists. Indeed, so confident of success 
did the enemy now appear to be, that when the ensign of the 
Alliance was shot away, this fact, coupled with the necessary 
slackness of her fire, induced their people to quit their guns, 
and give three cheers for victory. This occurred at a moment 
Avhen a light breeze struck the Alliance's sails, and she came 
fairly under steerage way. A single broadside from a man- 
ageable ship changed the entire state of the combat, and sent 
the enemy to their guns, again, with a conviction that their 
work yet remained to be done. After a manly resistance, 
both the English vessels, in the end, were compelled to haul 
down their colours. 

The prizes proved to be the Atalanta 16, Captain Edwards, 
with a crew of 130 men, and the Trepassy 14, Captain Smith, 
with a crew of 80 men. Both vessels were much cut up, and 
they sustained a joint loss of 41 men in killed and wounded. 
The Alliance did not escape with impunity, having had 11 



1781.] 



NAVAL HISTORY. 113 



killed and 21 wounded, principally by the fire of her enemies, 
while they lay on her quarter and across her stern. Captain 
Barry made a cartel of the Trepassy, and sent her into an 
English port with the prisoners ; but the Atalanta was retaken 
by the enemy's squadron that was cruising off Boston, while 
attempting to enter that harbour. 

Fortune now became capricious, and we are compelled to 
present the other side of the picture. Among the ships built 
late in the war, was the Confederacy 32. This vessel had 
been launched in 1778, at or near Norwich, in Connecticut ; 
and the command of her was given to Captain Seth Harding, 
the officer who was in the Defence 14, in the action in Nan- 
tasket Roads with the two transports captured in 1776. Cap- 
tain Harding had been commissioned in the navy, in which 
his first command appears to have been this ship. The Con- 
federacy sailed for Europe in 1779, with Mr. Jay, the min- 
ister to Spain, on board, and was suddenly dismasted, a little 
to the eastward of Bermuda. Spar followed spar, in this ca- 
lamity, until the ship lay a log on the water, with even her 
bowsprit gone. This, like so many similar misfortunes that 
have succeeded it, must probably be attributed to the rigging's 
having slackened, when the ship got into a warm latitude, after 
having been set up in cold weather at home. 

After several anxious weeks, the Confederacy got into Mar- 
tinique, where Mr. Jay obtained a passage in the French fri- 
gate l'Aurore, and the American vessel remained to refit. 
From that time to the commencement of the present year, the 
Confederacy was employed, like most of the large vessels of 
the service in that stage of the war, in keeping open the com- 
munications between the country and the different ports where 
supplies were obtained, and in transporting stores. Early in 
1781, she went to Cape Franqois, and, on the 22d of June, 
while on her return, with clothing and other supplies on board, 
and with a convoy in charge, she was chased by a large ship, 
which succeeded in getting alongside of her. Captain Hard- 
ing had gone to quarters, and was about to open his fire, when 
the enemy ran out a lower tier of guns, and a frigate being in 
company a short distance astern, the American struck. Seve- 
ral of the convoy were also taken. 

Captain Nicholson continued in command of the Trumbull, 

after his severe conflict with the Watt, and we find him at sea 

again in that ship, in the summer of 1781. She left the Dela-* 

ware on the 8th of August, with a crew short of 200 men, of 

10* 



114 NAVAL HISTORY. [17S1. 

which near 50 were of the questionable materials to be found 
among the prisoners of war. She had a convoy of twenty, 
eight sail, and a heavy privateer was in company. Off the 
Capes, the Trumbull made three British cruisers astern. Two 
of the enemy, one of which was a frigate, stood for the Trum- 
bull, which ship, by hauling up, was enabled to gain the wind 
of them. Night was near, and it blew heavily. The mer- 
chantmen began to diverge from the course, though, by carry- 
ing easy sail, the Trumbull was enabled to keep most of them 
ahead, and in their stations. While standing on in this man- 
ner, hoping every thing from the darkness, a squall carried 
away the Trumbull's fore-top-mast, which in falling brought 
down with it the main-tqp-gallant-mast. As the weather was 
thick and squally, the vessels in company of the Trumbull took 
advantage of the obscurity and scattered, each making the best 
of her way according to her particular rate of sailing. The 
Trumbull herself was compelled to bear up, in order to carry 
the canvass necessary to escape ; but with the wreck over her 
bows, and a crew that was not only deficient in numbers, but 
which was raw, and in part disaffected, her situation became 
in the last degree embarrassing. Indeed, her condition has 
been described as being so peculiarly distressing, as to form a 
strong instance of the difficulties that sometimes accompany 
naval warfare. 

About ten o'clock at night, the British frigate Iris 32, one of 
the vessels in chase, closed with the Trumbull, which ship, on 
account of the heaviness of the weather, had not yet been able 
to clear the wreck. In the midst of rain and squalls, in a tem- 
pestuous night, with most of the forward hamper of the ship 
over her bows, or lying on the forecastle, with one of the arms 
of the fore-topsail-yard run through her fore-sail, and the other 
jammed on deck, and with a disorganised crew, Captain Nich- 
olson found himself compelled to go to quarters, or to strike 
without resistance. He preferred the first ; but the English 
volunteers, instead of obeying the order, went below, extin- 
guished the lights, and secreted themselves. Near half of the 
remainder of the people imitated this example, and Captain 
Nicholson could not muster fifty of even the diminished crew 
he had, at the guns. The battle that followed, might almost 
be said to have been fought by the officers. These brave men, 
sustained by a party of the petty officers and seamen, managed 
a few of the guns for more than an hour, when the General 



1781.] NAVAL HISTORY. 1]5 

Monk 18, coming up and joining in the fire of the Iris, the 
Trumbull submitted. 

In this singular combat, it has even been asserted that at no 
time were forty of the Trumbull's people at quarters. It was 
probably owing to this circumstance, that her loss was so 
small, for the ship herself is said to have been extensively cut 
up. She had five men killed and eleven wounded. Among 
the latter were two of the lieutenants, and Mr. Alexander Mur- 
ray, a gentleman of Maryland, who had been educated to the 
seas, and had been in the action with the Watt, but who was 
now serving as a volunteer, and who, after commanding seve- 
ral private cruisers, entered the navy, and subsequently died at 
the head of the service in 1821. Mr. Murray was particularly 
distinguished in this affair, and the conduct of Captain Nichol- 
son met with much applause. The Iris suffered more than 
could have been expected under such circumstances, and re- 
ported seven men killed and wounded. 

As affording some relief to the loss of the Trumbull, we now 
come to a handsome exploit that occurred soon after, which 
ought, perhaps, properly, to take its place among the deeds of 
the private cruisers, but which is of sufficient importance to be 
mentioned here, and this so much the more, as a portion of 
those engaged belonged to the regular service of the country. 
A private cruiser called the Congress had been fitted out in 
Philadelphia, in the course of the summer, and in September 
she was cruising on the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia. 
The Congress had an armament of 20 guns, according to the 
American accounts, and of 24 according to the English, and 
she was commanded by Captain Geddes. Few of her people 
were seamen, of which there was now a great scarcity in the 
country, but her complement was, in a great degree, made up 
of landsmen. 

On the morning of the 6th of September, cruising to the 
eastward of Charleston, the Congress made a sail, to which 
she gave chase. The stranger was soon discovered to be a 
cruiser, and at. first showed a disposition to engage, but after 
some manoeuvring he stood off. At half-past ten the Congress 
began to fire her bow guns, and at eleven being close up on the 
enemy's quarter, she opened a heavy fire of musketry, which 
did a good deal of execution. Drawing ahead, the Congress 
now delivered her broadside, and it was returned with spirit. 
At first the enemy got a cross-fire upon the Congress, and the 
latter ship meeting with an accident, fell astern to refit. But 



116 NAVAL HISTORY. [1782. 

soon closing again, the combat was renewed with fresh vigour, 
and the Congress having got her enemy fairly under her guns, 
in less than an hour she left her a nearly unmanageable wreck 
on the water. Notwithstanding his condition, the Englishman 
showed no disposition to submit, and the Congress ran so close 
alongside, that the men were said to be reciprocally burned by 
the discharges of the guns. The quarter-deck and forecastle 
of the enemy had scarcely a man left on it, and his fire began 
to slacken in consequence of several of his guns having been 
dismounted. In this stage of the engagement, shot were even 
thrown by hand and did execution. At length the mizzen- 
mast of the English ship fell, and the main-mast threatening to 
follow it, her boatswain appeared on the forecastle, with his 
hat in his hand, and called out that his commander had struck. 
The prize proved to be the British sloop of war Savage 16, 
Captain Sterling. 

We have now reached the year 1782, which was virtually 
the last of the war of the Revolution, though some events will 
remain to be recorded in the early part of the year 1783. In 
the commencent of this year, the Deane 32, made a successful 
cruise, in which she took several private armed vessels of the 
enemy. On this occasion, the Deane was commanded by 
Captain Samuel Nicholson. 

The favourite ship, the Alliance 32, Captain Barry, was 
much employed this year, her superior sailing making her a 
vessel in constant demand. Among other services that she 
performed, this ship was sent to Havana for specie, whence 
she sailed, in company with the Luzerne, a ship loaded with 
supplies. Shortly after quitting port, some enemy's vessels 
fell in with them, and gave chase. While running from this 
force, a large sail was seen on the Alliance's weather bow, 
which was soon made out to be a French 50, on two decks. 
Exchanging signals, and supposing that the French frigate 
would sustain him, Captain Barry immediately wore round 
and brought the leading vessel of the enemy to action ; the 
others manoeuvring in a way to engage the attention of the 
fifty. The latter, however, kept her wind ; and after a sharp 
fight of more than half an hour, the English ship engaged 
with the Alliance, finding herself hard pushed, made signals 
to her consorts to join, when Captain Barry hauled off. The 
Alliance now stood for the French ship, and speaking her, it 
was determined to bring the enemy to action again, in com- 
pany. On making sail in chase, however, it was soon found 



1782.] NAVAL HISTORY. 117 

that the fifty was too dull a sailer to give the least hope of 
overtaking the enemy, and the attempt was abandoned. 

In this action, the Alliance had 3 killed and 11 wounded ; 
while it is said that the loss of the enemy was very heavy. 
Some statements place the latter as high as 87 men ; but no 
accounts can be discovered, that give a very clear history of 
this affair. Even the name of the English ship appears to be 
lost. One of the enemy, by some of the accounts, was said to 
be a ship of the line, and the vessel engaged by the Alliance, 
a heavy sloop of war.* 

The command of the Hague, one of the two frigates now 
left in the American marine, was given to Captain Manly, 
after her return from the cruise under Captain Nicholson ; 
and this officer who had virtuallly begun the maritime war, on 
the part of the United States, in a manner closed it, by an 
arduous and brilliant chase, in which he escaped from several 
of the enemy's ships in the West-Indies, after being for a con- 
siderable time under the guns of a vastly superior force. This 
occurrence may be said to have brought the regular naval 
warfare of the United States to an end, so far as the govern- 
ment cruisers were concerned, peace having been made early 
in 1783. 



CHAPTER XII. 

In March, 1782, the Delaware was much infested by barges 
and small cruisers of the enemy, which not unfrequently made 
prizes of vessels belonging to the Americans, as well as mo- 
lesting the people who dwelt near the water. With a view to 
keep the navigation open against these marauders, the State 
of Pennsylvania determined to fit out a few vessels at its own 
expense, and with such materials as could be hastily collected. 
With this object, a small ship called the Hyder Ally was pur- 
chased. So suddenly did the local government come to its 

* James, very inaccurate authority in general, says that this vessel was 
the Sibyl, rating 20, and mounting 28 guns, Captain Vashon. It is quite 
probable he is right in this instance. 



118 NAVAL HISTORY. [1782. 

resolution, that the vessel just named, when bought, had actu- 
ally dropped down the river, on an outward-bound voyage, 
loaded with flour. She was brought back, her cargo was dis- 
charged, and an armament of 16 six-pounders was put upon 
her. So little, however, was this ship ready for war, that she 
had to be pierced in order to receive her guns. Indeed, so 
pressing was the emergency, that the merchants of Philadel- 
phia anticipated the passage of the law to authorise the pur- 
chase and equipment of this ship, by advancing funds for that 
purpose ; and the act had not entirely gone through all its legal 
forms, until after the exploit we are about to record had been 
performed ! The commissioners entrusted with the duty of 
preparing the ship, selected Lieutenant Joshua Barney, of the 
United States navy, as her commander, a young officer of 
great decision of character and personal bravery, who had 
already distinguished himself in subordinate stations, on board 
of different cruisers of the general government, but who, like 
so many more of the profession, was obliged frequently to 
choose between idleness and a service less regular than that to 
which he properly belonged. 

A crew of 110 men was put on board the Hyder Ally ; and 
within a fortnight after he was appointed to command her, Cap- 
tain Barney sailed. It was not the intention of the authorities 
of Pennsylvania, that this ship should go to sea, but merely 
that she should keep the navigation of the river and bay open, 
and drive off privateers, and other small cruisers. On the 8th 
of April, the Hyder Ally got into the bay with a considerable 
convoy of outward-bound merchantmen. The whole fleet had 
anchored in the roads off Cape May, in waiting for a wind to 
get to sea, when two ships and a brig, one of the former a 
frigate, were seen rounding the Cape, with a view to attack 
them. Captain Barney immediately ran up a signal for the 
convoy to trip, and to stand up the bay again, the wind being 
to the southward. This order was promptly obeyed, and in a 
few minutes, the merchant vessels, with one exception, were 
running off before the wind, with every thing set that would 
draw, the Hyder Ally covering their retreat, under easy sail. 
The vessel that remained, endeavoured to get to sea, by haul- 
ing close round the cape, but grounded and fell into the hands 
of the enemy. Another vessel got on the shoals, and was 
taken by a boat from the nearest of the English cruisers. 

An extensive shoal, called the " Over Falls," forms two 
channels, in the lower part of Delaware Bay, and while the 



1782.] NAVAL HISTORY. 119 

convoy passed up the easternmost of these channels, or that 
which is known as the " Cape May Channel," the frigate stood 
towards the western, which offered a better chance to head the 
fugitives at the point where the two united, and which had the 
most water. The remaining ship and the brig, stood on in the 
direction of the Hyder Ally. 

It was not long before the brig, which proved to be a British 
privateer out of New York, called the Fair American, came 
up with the Hyder Ally, when the latter offered her battle. 
But firing a broadside, the privateer kept aloof, and continued 
up the bay. Captain Barney declined to return this fire, hold- 
ing himself in reserve for the ship astern, a large sloop of war, 
which was fast coming up. When the latter got quite near, 
the Hyder Ally, which had kept close to the shoal, luffed, threw 
in her broadside, and immediately righting her helm, kept 
away again. The enemy stood boldly on, and just as his for- 
ward guns were beginning to bear, the two vessels being within 
pistol-shot, the Hyder Ally attempted to luff athwart his hawse, 
when the jib-boom of the English ship ran into her fore-rigging, 
and the two vessels got foul. It is said that Captain Barney 
obtained this advantage by deceiving his enemy, having given 
an order to port the helm, in a loud voice, Avhen secret instruc- 
tions had been given to the quarter-master at the wheel, to put 
his helm hard a-starboard. The Hyder Ally now opened a 
severe raking fire, and in less than half an hour from the com- 
mencement of the action, the stranger struck, the ships remain- 
ing foul of each other. 

The frigate, which had not actually got into the western 
channel, perceiving the state of things, changed her course, 
with a view to get round to the combatants, and Captain Bar- 
ney had no time to lose. Throwing his first lieutenant, with 
a party, on board the prize, he ordered her to continue up the 
bay, while he covered the retreat with his own ship. In the 
mean while, the brig had run aground above, in chase of the 
convoy. There is some reason to suppose that the commander 
of the frigate did not know the result of the action, for he 
made signals to the prize, and anchored about sunset, leaving 
the Hyder Ally, which had been kept a long distance astern 
of the other vessels, with a view to divert his attention, to pro- 
ceed to Philadelphia without further molestation. 

Up to this moment, Captain Barney did not know even the 
name of his prize. He now made sail, however, and ranning 
alongside of her, for the first time he learned that he had cap- 



120 NAVAL HISTORY. [1782. 

tured his Britannic Majesty's ship General Monk 18, Captain 
Rogers. This vessel had formerly been the American priva- 
teer, General Washington, and having fallen into the power 
of Admiral Arbuthnot, he had taken her into the king's ser- 
vice, given her a new name, and promoted a favourite officer 
to her command. The Monk mounted twenty nines, and is 
said to have had a crew of 136 men. Captain Rogers report- 
ed his loss at six killed, and twenty-nine wounded ; but Cap- 
tain Barney stated it at twenty killed, and thirty-six wounded. 
It is probable that the latter account is nearest to the truth, as 
the commander of a captured vessel has not always as good 
an opportunity as his captor, to ascertain his own loss. The 
Hyder Ally had four killed, and eleven wounded. 

This action has been justly deemed one of the most bril- 
liant that ever occurred under the American flag. It was 
fought in the presence of a vastly superior force that was not 
engaged ; and the ship taken was, in every essential respect, 
superior to her conqueror. The disproportion in metal, be- 
tween a six-pounder and a nine-pounder, is one-half; and the 
Monk, besides being a heavier and a larger ship, had the most 
men. Both vessels appeared before Philadelphia a few hours 
after the action, bringing with them even their dead ; and most 
of the leading facts were known to the entire community of 
that place. 

The steadiness with which Captain Barney protected his 
convoy, the gallantry and conduct with which he engaged, 
and the perseverance with which he covered the retreat of his 
prize, are all deserving of high praise. Throughout the whole 
affair, this officer discovered the qualities of a great naval cap- 
tain ; failing in no essential of that distinguished character. 

The Monk, her old name having been restored, was taken 
into the service of the State of Pennsylvania, and was shortly 
after sent on duty in behalf of the United States, to the West- 
Indies. During this cruise, Captain Barney, who commanded 
her, had a warm engagement with an English brig, supposed 
to be a privateer, of equal force, but she escaped from him, 
the meeting occurring in the night, and the enemy manoeuvring 
and sailing particularly well. The name of his antagonist is 
not known. In this affair, the Washington received some 
damage in her spars, but met with no serious loss. 

Massachusetts and South Carolina were the two states that 
most exerted themselves, in order to equip cruisers of their 
own. As early as September, 1776, one of the vessels of the 



1782.] NAVAL HISTORY. 121 

former is said to have captured an English sloop of war, after 
a sharp action ; but we can discover no more than general and 
vague accounts of the affair. 

Among the vessels of Massachusetts was one named after 
the State itself, and a brig called the Tyrannicide. The latter 
was a successful cruiser, and made many captures, but she 
was lost in the unfortunate affair in the Penobscot. It is be- 
lieved that the Tyrannicide was built expressly for a cruiser. 
But the favourite officer of this service appears to have been 
Captain John Foster Williams, who commanded a brig called 
the Hazard, in 1779. In this vessel, in addition to the action 
already related with the Active, Captain Williams performed 
many handsome exploits, proving himself, on all occasions, an 
officer of merit. 

After quitting the Hazard, Captain Williams was transfer- 
red to the Protector 20, equally a state ship. In this vessel 
he had the two actions mentioned in another chapter, — that 
with the DufF, and that with the Thames, — in both of which 
this gallant officer greatly distinguished himself. Soon after 
this brilliant cruise he resumed the command of the Hazard, 
which was also lost to the state in the unfortunate expedition 
against the British in the Penobscot. It would probably have 
been better for Massachusetts had it named this meritorious 
officer to the command of the naval armament on that occa- 
sion. This unhappy affair appears, in a great degree, to have 
put an end to the maritime efforts of Massachusetts, a state, 
however, that was active to the last, in aiding the general 
cause. 

Of the vessels of Carolina mention has already been made. 
In the early part of the war several light cruisers were em- 
ployed, but as the contest advanced, this State entertained a 
plan of obtaining a few vessels of force, with an intention of 
striking a heavier blow than common against the enemy. 
With this view Commodore Gillon, the officer who was at the 
head of its little marine, went to Europe, and large amounts 
of colonial produce were transmitted to him, in order to raise 
the necessary funds. In his correspondence, this officer com- 
plains of the difficulty of procuring the right sort of ships, and 
much time was lost in fruitless negotiations for that purpose, 
in both France and Holland. At length an arrangement was 
entered into, for one vessel, that is so singular as to require 
particular notice. This vessel was the Indien, which had been 
laid down by the American commissioners, at Amsterdam, and 
11 



122 NAVAL HISTORY. [1783. 

subsequently presented to France. She had the dimensions 
of a small 74, but was a frigate in construction, carrying, how- 
ever, an armament that consisted of 28 Swedish thirty-sixes 
on her gun-deck, and of 12 Swedish twelves on her quarter- 
deck and forecastle, or 40 guns in the whole. This ship, 
though strictly the property of France, had been lent by Louis 
XVI. to the Duke of Luxembourg, who hired her to the State 
of South Carolina for three years, on condition that the State 
would insure her, sail her at its own expense, and render to 
her owner one-fourth of the proceeds of her prizes. Under 
this singular compact, the ship, which was named the South 
Carolina for the occasion, got out in 1781, and made a suc- 
cessful cruise in the narrow seas, sending her prizes into 
Spain. Afterwards she proceeded to America, capturing ten 
sail, with which she went into the Havana. Here Commodore 
Gillon, with a view to distress the enemy, accepted the com- 
mand of the nautical part of an expedition against the Baha- 
mas, that had been set on foot by the Spaniards, and in which 
other American cruisers joined. The expedition was success- 
ful, and the ship proceeded to Philadelphia. Commodore Gil- 
lon now left her, and after some delay, the South Carolina 
went to sea in December, 1782, under the orders of Captain 
Joyner, an officer who had previously served on board her as 
second in command. It is probable that the movements of so 
important a vessel were watched, for she had scarcely cleared 
the capes, when, after a short running fight, she fell into the 
hands of the British ship Diomede 44, having the Astrea 32, 
and the Quebec 32, in company. 

The South Carolina was much the heaviest ship that ever 
sailed under the American flag, until the new frigates were 
constructed during the war of 1812, and she is described as 
having been a particularly fast vessel ; but her service appears 
to have been greatly disproportioned to her means. She cost 
the state a large sum of money, and is believed to have re- 
turned literally nothing to its treasury. Her loss excited much 
comment. 

Admiral Arbuthnot reports among the " rebel ships of war" 
taken or sunk at the capture of Charleston, " the Bricole, 
pierced for 60, mounting 44 guns, twenty-four and eighteen- 
pounders," &c. As there never was a vessel of this name in 
the navy of the United States, it is probable that this ship was 
another heavy frigate obtained by the State of South Carolina, 
in Europe. Although this state had the pecuniary means to 



1782.] NAVAL HISTORY. 123 

equip a better marine than common, it had neither vessels, 
building-yards, nor seamen. Most of its vessels were pur- 
chased, and its mariners were principally obtained from places 
out of its limits, Commodore Gillon and Captain Joyner being 
both natives of Holland. 

Thus terminated the first war in which America was en- 
gaged as a separate nation, after a struggle that had endured 
seven years and ten months. Orders of recall were immedi- 
ately given to the different cruisers, and the commissions of 
all privateers and letters of marque were revoked. The pro- 
clamation announcing a cessation of hostilities was made 
on the 11th of April, when the war finally terminated at all 
points. 

It remains only to say that the navy of the Revolution, like 
its army, was disbanded at the termination of the struggle, 
literally leaving nothing behind it, but the recollections of its 
services and sufferings. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The country was too much exhausted by the war of the 
revolution to incur the expense of a marine during a time of 
peace. But the growing commerce of the country, as well as 
its unprotected state, excited the cupidity of the Dey of Algiers, 
who captured the schooner Maine, of Boston, on the 25th of 
July, 1785. This unprovoked outrage was succeeded by 
others, until the government of the United States, after negoti- 
ating in the best manner it could for the release of the vessels 
and captives, found itself under the necessity of arming. This 
decided measure was not taken, however, until after the or- 
ganisation of the government under the new constitution, and 
during the Presidency of Washington. The construction of 
six frigates was authorised by law, and the keels of the follow- 
ing vessels were laid, viz : the Constitution 44, United States 
44, President 44, Chesapeake 38, Constellation 38, and Con- 
gress 38. 

This was the commencement of the actual and permanent 
marine of the country. Three of the ships just named are 



124 NAVAL HISTORY. [17S6-98. 

now in use, and two are on foreign stations. In consequence 
of an arrangement of the difficulties with Algiers, neither of 
these vessels was launched for some years, the work on them 
being suspended by an order of government. A navy was so 
far created, notwithstanding, that the gentlemen appointed to 
command the frigates, continued in service, as did some of the 
inferior officers. Their duties were chiefly limited to taking 
care of the ships that were still on the stocks, and the stores 
that had been collected. The time was drawing near, how- 
ever, when a more active and serviceable marine was estab- 
lished. 

The President, in his annual speech to Congress, December, 
1796, strongly recommended laws for the gradual increase of 
the navy. It is worthy of remark, as appears by documents 
published at the time, that, the peace obtained from the Dey 
of Algiers cost the government of the United States near a 
million of dollars, a sum quite sufficient to have kept the bar- 
barian's port hermetically blockaded until he should have 
humbly sued for permission to send a craft to sea. 

While these events were gradually leading to the formation 
of a navy, the maritime powers of Europe became involved in 
what was nearly a general war, and their measures of hostility 
against each other had a direct tendency to trespass on the 
privileges of neutrals. It would exceed the limits of this work 
to enter into the history of that system of gradual encroach- 
ments on the rights of the American people, which distinguished 
the measures of both the two great belligerents, in the war that 
succeeded the French Revolution ; or the height of audacity to 
which the cruisers of France, in particular, carried their depre- 
dations, most probably mistaking the amount of the influence 
of their own country, over the great body of the American 
nation. Not only did they capture British ships within our 
waters, but they actually took the same liberties with Ameri- 
cans also. All attempts to obtain redress from the French 
government failed, and unable to submit any longer to such 
injustice, the president, in April, 1798, recommended to Con- 
gress a plan of armament and defence, that it was hoped would 
have the effect to check these aggressions, and avert an open 
conflict. Down to this period, the whole military organization 
of the country, was entrusted to one department, that of war ; 
and a letter from the secretary of this branch of the govern- 
ment, to the chairman of a committee to devise means of pro- 
tection and defence, was the form in which this high interest 



1798] s NAVAL HISTORY. 125 

was brought before the nation, through its representatives. 
Twenty small vessels were advised to be built, and, in the 
event of an open rupture, it was recommended to Congress to 
authorise the President to cause six ships of the line to be con- 
structed. This force was in addition to the six frigates au- 
thorised by the law of 1794. 

The United States 44, Constitution 44, and Constellation 38, 
had been got afloat the year previous. 

The United States was the first vessel that was got into the 
water, under the present organisation of the navy. She was 
launched at Philadelphia, on the 10th of July, 1797, and the 
Constellation followed her on the 7th of September. 

Congress acted so far on the recommendation of the secre- 
tary of war, as to authorise the President to cause to be built, 
purchased, or hired, twelve vessels, none of which were to ex- 
ceed twenty-two guns, and to see that they were duly equipped 
and manned. To effect these objects $950,000 were appro- 
priated. This law passed on the 27th of April, 1798, and on the 
30th, a regular navy department was formally created. Ben- 
jamin Stoddart, of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, 
was the first secretary put at the head of this important branch of 
the government, entering on his duties in June of the same year. 

Down to this moment, the old treaty of alliance, formed be- 
tween France and the United States during the war of the 
Revolution, and some subsequent conventions, were legally in 
existence; but Congress by law solemnly abrogated them all, 
on the 7th of July, 1798, on the plea that they had been re- 
peatedly disregarded by France, and that the latter country 
continued, in the face of the most solemn remonstrances, to 
practise a system of predatory warfare on the commerce of the 
country. 

On the 11th of July, 1798, a new marine corps was estab- 
lished by Irfw, the old one having been disbanded with the navy 
of the Revolution, to which it had properly belonged. On the 
16th of the same month, a law was passed to construct three 
more frigates. This act was expressed in such terms as to 
enable the government immediately to complete the ships com- 
menced under the law of 1794, and which had been suspended 
under that of 1796. The whole force authorised by law, on 
the 16th of July, consequently, consisted of twelve frigates; 
twelve ships of a force between 20 and 24 guns, inclusive ; 
and six smaller sloops, besides galleys and revenue cutters ; 
making a total of thirty active cruisers. 
11* 



126 NAVAL HISTORY. [1798. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Although three of the frigates were launched in 1797, 
neither was quite ready for service when the necessities of the 
country required that vessels should be sent to sea. The 
want of suitable spars and guns, and other naval stores, had 
retarded the labour on the frigates, while vessels had been rea- 
dily bought for the sloops of war, which, though deficient in 
many of the qualities and conveniences of regular cruisers, 
were made to answer the exigencies of the times. Among 
others that had been thus provided, was an Indiaman, called 
the Ganges. Retaining her name, this vessel was brought 
into the service, armed and equipped as a 24, and put under 
the command of Captain Richard Dale, who was ordered to 
sail on a cruise on the 22d of May. This ship, then, was the 
first man-of-war that ever got to sea since the present organi- 
sation of the navy, or since the United States have existed un- 
der the constitution. Captain Dale was instructed to do no 
more than pertains generally to the authority of a vessel of 
war, that is cruising on the coast of the country to which she 
belongs, in a time of peace ; the law that empowered seizures 
not passing until a few days after he had sailed. His cruising 
ground extended from the east end of Long Island to the capes 
of Virginia, with a view to cover, as much as possible, the 
three important ports of Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New 
York; and, in anticipation of the act of the 28th of May, 
Captain Dale was directed to appear off the capes of the De- 
laware on the 12th of June, to receive new orders. On that 
day, instructions were accordingly sent to him to capture all 
French cruisers that were hovering on the coast with hostile 
views on the American commerce, and to recapture any of 
their prizes he might happen to fall in with. 

The Constellation 38, Captain Truxtun, and the Delaware 
20, Captain Decatur, went to sea, early in June, under the last 
of the foregoing orders, and with directions to cruise to the 
southward of Cape Henry, as far as the coast of Florida. 
When a ibw days out, the Delaware fell in with the French 
privateer schooner Le Croyable 14, with a crew of 70 men. 
Being satisfied that this vessel had already made several prizes, 



1708.] NAVAL HISTORY. 127 

and that she was actually cruising on soundings, in search of 
more, Captain Decatur took her, and sent her into the Dela- 
ware. As the law directing the capture of all armed French 
vessels passed soon after her arrival, Le Croyable was con- 
demned, and bought into the navy. She was called the Reta- 
liation, and the command of her was given to Lieutenant 
Bainbi'idge. 

Le Croyable was, consequently, not only the first capture 
made, in what it is usual to term the war of 1798, but she 
was the first vessel ever taken by the present navy, or under 
the present form of government. 

The activity employed by the administration, as well as by 
the navy, now astonished those who had so long been accus- 
tomed to believe the American people disposed to submit to 
any insult, in preference to encountering the losses of a war. 
The United States 44, Captain Barry, went to sea early in 
July, and proceeded to cruise to the eastward. This ship car- 
ried out with her many young gentlemen, who have since 
risen to high rank and distinction in the service. But the law 
of the 9th of that month, occurring immediately afterwards, 
the government altered its policy entirely, and determined to 
send, at once, a strong force among the West-India islands, 
where the enemy abounded, and where the commerce of the 
country was most exposed to his depredations. On the 11th, 
instructions were sent to Captain Barry, who now hoisted a 
broad pennant, to go off Cape Cod, with the Delaware 20, 
Captain Decatur, where he would find the Herald 18, Captain 
Sevier, that officer preferring active service in a small vessel, 
to waiting for the frigate to which he had been appointed, and 
then to proceed directly to the West-Indies, keeping to wind- 
ward. 

That well-known frigate, the Constitution 44, had been 
launched at Boston, September 20th 1797 ; and she first got 
under way, July 20th of this year, under Captain Samuel Ni- 
cholson, who, in August, with four revenue vessels in com- 
pany, was directed to cruise on the coast, to the southward of 
Cape Henry. 

Early in August, the Constellation 38, Captain Truxtun, and 
the Baltimore 20, Captain Phillips, went to the Havana, and 
brought a convoy of sixty sail in safety to the United States ; 
several French cruisers then lying in the port, ready to follow 
the merchantmen, but for this force, the presence of which 
prevented them from appearing outside the castle. By the 



128 NAVAL HISTORY. 11796. 

close of the year, a force consisting of three frigates eleven 
sloops and brigs, and nine smaller vessels, was at sea; most 
of the vessels being either in the West Indies, or employed in 
convoying between the islands and the United States. 

Besides the vessels named, many more were already laid 
down ; and so great was the zeal of the commercial towns, in 
particular, that no less than two frigates, and five large sloops 
were building by subscription, in the different principal ports. 
In addition to this force, must be enumerated eight large gal- 
leys, that were kept on the southern coast, to defend their 
inlets. 

It has been stated that the privateer Le Croyable 14, cap- 
tured by the Delaware 20, had been taken into the service, 
under the name of the Retaliation. In November, 1798, 
the Montezuma 20, Captain Murray, Norfolk 18, Captain 
Williams, and the Retaliation 12, Lieutenant-Commandant 
Bainbridge, were cruising in company off Guadaloupe, when 
three sails were made to the eastward, and soon after two 
more to the westward. Captain Murray, who was the se- 
nior officer, was led to suppose, from circumstances, that the 
vessels in the eastern board were British ; and speaking the 
Retaliation, he ordered Lieutenant Bainbridge to reconnoitre 
them, while with the Norfolk in company, he gave chase, him- 
self, in the Montezuma, to the two vessels to the westward. 
The Retaliation, in obedience to these orders, immediately 
hauled up towards the three strangers, and getting near enough 
for signals, she showed her own number, with a view to ascer- 
tain if they were Americans. Finding that he was not under- 
stood, Lieutenant Bainbridge mistook the strangers for English 
cruisers, knowing that several were on the station, and unluck- 
ily permitted them to approach so near, that when their real 
characters were ascertained, it was too late to escape. The 
leading ship, a French frigate, was an uncommonly fast sailer, 
and she was soon near enough to open her fire. It was not 
long before another frigate came up, when the Retaliation was 
compelled to lower her flag. Thus did this unlucky vessel be- 
come the first cruiser taken by both parties, in this war. The 
frigates by which the Retaliation was captured, proved to be 
the Volontaire 36, and the Insurgentc 32, the former carrying 
44, and the latter 40 guns. Mr. Bainbridge was put on board 
the Volontaire, while the Insurgente, perceiving that the 
schooner was safe, continued to carry sail in chase of the 



1738.] NAVAL HISTORY. 129 

Montezuma and Norfolk. As soon as a prize crew could be 
thrown into the Retaliation, the Volontaire crowded sail after 
her consort. The chase now became exceedingly interesting, 
the two American vessels being fully aware, by the capture of 
the schooner, that they had to deal with an enemy. The In- 
surgente was one of the fastest ships in the world, and her 
commander an officer of great skill and resolution. The two 
American vessels were small for their rates, and, indeed, were 
over-rated, the Montezuma being a little ship of only 347 tons, 
and the Norfolk a brig of 200. Their armaments were merely 
nines and sixes ; shot that would be scarcely regarded in a 
conflict with frigates. The officers of the Volontaire collected 
on the forecastle of their ship to witness the chase ; and the In- 
surgente being, by this time, a long way ahead, Captain St. 
Laurent, the commander of the Volontaire, asked Mr. Bain- 
bridge, who was standing near him, what might be the force 
of the two American vessels. With great presence of mind, 
Mr. Bainbridge answered, that the ship carried 28 twelves, and 
the brig 20 nines. As this account quite doubled the real force 
of the Americans, Captain St. Laurent, who was senior to the 
commander of the Insurgente, immediately threw out a signal 
to the latter to relinquish the chase. This was an unmilitary 
order, even admitting the fact to have been as stated, for the 
Insurgente would have been fully able to employ two such 
vessels until the Volontaire could come up ; but the recent suc- 
cesses of the English had rendered the French cruisers wary, 
and the Americans and English, as seamen, were probably 
identified in the minds of the enemy. Tbe signal caused as 
much surprise to Captain Murray, in the Montezuma, as to 
Captain Barreault, of the Insurgente; for the latter, an excel- 
lent and spirited officer, had got so near his chases as to have 
made out their force, and to feel certain of capturing both. 
The signal was obeyed, however, and the Montezuma and 
Norfolk escaped. 

When the two French vessels rejoined each other, Captain 
Barreault naturally expressed his surprise at having been re- 
called under such circumstances. An explanation followed, 
when the ruse that had been practised by Mr. Bainbridge, was 
discovered. It is to the credit of the French officers, that, 
while they were much vexed at the results of this artifice, they 
never visited the offender with their displeasure. 

The United States 44, and Delaware 20, captured the pri- 



130 NAVAL HISTORY. [1799. 

vateers Sans Pareil 16, and Jaloux 14, in the course of the 
autumn, and sent them in. 

Thus terminated the year 1798, leaving the United States 
with a hastily collected, an imperfectly organised, and un- 
equally disciplined squadron of ships, it is true ; but a service 
that contained the germ of all that is requisite to make an ac- 
tive, an efficient, and a glorious marine. 



CHAPTER XV. 

The year 1799 opened with no departure from the policy 
laid down by the government, and the building and equipping 
of the different ships in various parts of the country, were 
pressed with as much diligence as the public resources would 
then allow. In the course of this season, many vessels were 
launched, and most of them got to sea within the year. Inclu- 
ding all, those that were employed in 1798, those that were 
put in commission early in the ensuing year, and those that 
were enabled to quit port nearer to its close, the entire active 
naval force of the United States, in 1799, would seem to have 
been composed of the following vessels, viz : 

United States 44, Delaware 20, 

Constitution 44, Baltimore 20, 

Congress 38, Patapsco 20, 

Constellation 38, Maryland 20, 

Essex 32, Herald 

General Greene 28, Norfolk 

Boston 28, Richmond 

Adams 28, Pinckney 

John Adams 28, Warren 

Portsmouth 24, Eagle, 

Connecticut 24, Pickering 

Ganges 24, Augusta 

Geo. Washington, . . . 24, Scammel 

Merrimack 24, Enterprise 

To these must be added a few revenue vessels, though most 
of this description of cruisers appear to have been kept on the 



1799.] NAVAL HISTORY. 131 

coast throughout this year. As yet, the greatest confusion and 
irregularity prevailed in the rating, no uniform system appear- 
ing to have been adopted. The vessels built by the different 
cities, and presented to the public, in particular, were rated too 
high, from a natural desire to make the offering as respectable 
as possible ; and it does not appear to have been thought expe- 
dient, on the part of the government, prematurely to correct 
the mistakes. 

On the 9th of February, the Constellation 38, Commodore 
Truxtun, was cruising on her prescribed ground, Nevis bearing 
W. S. W., distant five leagues, when she made a large ship 
in the southern board. The Constellation being to windward 
at the moment, Commodore Truxtun ran down towards the 
stranger, who now set American colours, when the private 
signals were shown. As the chase was unable to answer, he 
seemed to think further disguise unnecessary, for he hoisted 
the French ensign, and fired a gun to windward, by way of a 
challenge, keeping under easy sail, to invite the contest. This 
was the first opportunity that had occurred since the close of 
the Revolution, for an American vessel of war to get alongside 
of an enemy, of a force likely to render a combat certain, and 
the officers and men of the Constellation displayed the greatest 
eagerness to engage. On the other hand, the stranger be- 
trayed no desire to disappoint his enemy, waiting gallantly for 
her to come down. When the Constellation had got abeam of 
the French frigate, and so near as to have been several times 
hailed, she opened her fire, which was returned promptly and 
with spirit. The Constellation drew gradually ahead, both 
ships maintaining a fierce cannonade. The former suffered 
most in her sails and rigging, and while under the heaviest of 
the fire of her antagonist, the fore-topmast was badly wounded, 
quite near the lower cap. The fore-top was commanded by 
Mr. David Porter, a midshipman of great promise, and finding 
that his hails to communicate this important circumstance were 
disregarded, in the heat of the combat, this young officer took 
on himself the responsibility of cutting the stoppers and of 
lowering the yard. By thus relieving the spar of the pressure 
of the sail, he prevented the fall of the topmast and all its 
hamper. In the mean time the weight and effect of the fire were 
altogether in favour of the Constellation, and notwithstanding 
the injury she received in her fore-topmast, that ship was soon 
able to throw in two or three raking broadsides, which decided 



132 NAVAL HISTORY. [1799. 

the combat. After maintaining a close contest of about an hour, 
the Constellation shot out of the smoke, wore round, and haul- 
ing athwart her antagonist's stern, was ready again with every 
gun to rake her, when the enemy struck. 

The prize proved to be the French frigate PInsurgente, Cap- 
tain Barreault, the vessel that has already been mentioned, as 
having captured the Retaliation, and chasing the Montezuma 
and Norfolk, and one of the fastest ships in the world. She 
was much cut up, and had sustained a loss of 70 men, in 
killed and wounded ; 29 of the former, and 41 of the latter. 
The Constellation, besides the loss of the fore-topmast, which 
had to be shifted, was much damaged aloft, suffering no mate- 
rial injury in her hull, however, and had only 3 men wounded. 
Among the latter, was Mr. James M'Donough, a midshipman, 
who had a foot shot off*. Early in the combat, one of the men 
flinched from his gun, and he was killed by the third lieuten- 
ant, to whose division he belonged. 

The Insurgente's armament consisted of 40 guns, French 
twelves, on her main-deck battery, and her complement of men 
was 409. She was a ship a little heavier than a regular 32, 
which would probably have been her rate in the English ma- 
rine, although a French twelve-pound shot weighs nearly thir- 
teen English pounds. On this occasion, the Constellation is 
said to have carried but 38 guns, twelve less than have been 
put upon her since the introduction of carronades, and she had 
a crew of 309 men. But the main-deck battery of the Con- 
stellation was composed of twenty-fours, a gun altogether too 
heavy for her size and strength, and from which she was re- 
lieved at the termination of this cruise, by exchanging her 
armament for eighteens. 

The Insurgente struck about half past three in the afternoon, 
and Mr. Rodgers,* the first lieutenant of the Constellation, to- 
gether with Mr. Porter,f and eleven men, were thrown on 
board her, to take possession, and to superintend the removal 
of the prisoners. It began to blow, and when the darkness 
rendered it necessary to defer the duty, 173 of the prize's crew 
were still in her. The wind continued to rise, and, notwith- 
standing every effort, the ships sepai'ated in the darkness. 

The situation of Mr. Rodgers was now exceedingly critical. 
The vessel was still covered with the wreck, while the wound- 

* Late Commodore Rodgers. t Commodore Porter. 



1799] NAVAL HISTORY. 133 

ed, and even the dead were lying scattered about her decks, 
and the prisoners early discovered a disposition to rise. The 
gratings had been thrown overboard by the people of the In- 
surgente after she struck, and no handcuffs could be found. 
Fortunately, Mr. Rodgers was a man of great personal resolu- 
tion, and of herculean strength, while Mr. Porter, though 
young and comparatively slight, was as good a second, in such 
trying circumstances, as any one could desire. As soon as it 
was ascertained that the prisoners could not be got out of the 
ship that night, they were all sent into the lower hold, the fire- 
arms were secured, and a sentinel was placed at each hatch- 
way, armed to the teeth, with positive orders to shoot every 
man who should attempt to appear on deck, without permis- 
sion. In this awkward situation, Mr. Rodgers and his party 
continued three days, unable to sleep, compelled to manage a 
frigate, and to watch their prisoners with the utmost vigilance, 
as the latter were constantly on the look-out for an opportunity 
to retake the ship. At the end of that time, they carried the 
Insurgente, in triumph, into St. Kitts, where they found that 
the Constellation had already arrived. 

One of the effects of the victory of the Constellation was to 
render the navy still more popular, and the most respectable 
families of the nation discovered greater anxiety than ever to 
get their sons enrolled on its lists. The new ships were put 
into the water as fast as possible, and, as soon as manned and 
equipped, were sent on the different cruising grounds. L'ln- 
surgente was taken into the service as a thirty-six, the com- 
mand of her was given to Captain Murray, late of the Monte- 
zuma 20, and she was permitted to cruise with a roving com- 
mission. 

In the mean time, the care of the government appeared to 
extend itself, and it began to cast its eyes beyond the hazards 
of the American seas. 

At the close of the year, the Congress 38, Captain Sever, 
and Essex 32, Captain Preble, sailed with orders to convoy 
vessels as far as Batavia. The former of these vessels met 
with an accident to which all new ships are liable on quitting 
America in the winter. Her rigging having been set up in 
cold weather, it became slack when she got into the gulf 
stream, where she also encountered a strong southerly gale, 
and she lost not only all her masts, but her bowsprit. The 
main-mast went while Mr. Bosworth, the fourth lieutenant, was 
aloft, endeavouring to lower the main-topmast, by which acci- 
12 



134 NAVAL HISTORY. [1799. 

dent that officer was lost. The crew of the top were all hap- 
pily saved. 

The Congress returned to port, for repairs, but Captain Preble 
proceeded on his cruise, carrying the pennant, for the first time 
in a regular cruiser, to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope. 
The active measures resorted to by the American govern- 
ment having better disposed that of France to negotiate, and 
pledges having been given that new ministers would be re- 
ceived with more respect than had been shown to those last 
sent, who had met with insults and neglect, the United States 
44, Commodore Barry, sailed from Newport, Rhode Island, on 
the 3d of November, having on board envoys to the French 
Directory. Notwithstanding these measures to obtain peace, 
Congress proceeded in the legislation necessary to establish a 
marine. Many of the laws for the government of the navy 
were amended, and new regulations were introduced as substi- 
tutes for such of the old ones as were found defective. The 
appropriation for the support of the navy, during the year 1800, 
the marine corps included, amounted to $2,482,953 90. 

The new year consequently opened with increased efforts 
to continue the singular war that had now existed eighteen 
months. Many acquisitions were made to the navy, and the 
following is a list of the vessels that appear to have been em- 
ployed in the course of the season, principally in the West-In- 
dies, viz : 

United States 44, Portsmouth 24, 

Constitution 44, Merrimack 24, 

President 44, Delaware 20, 

Constellation 38, Baltimore 20, 

Congress 38, Maryland 20, 

Chesapeake 38, Patapsco 20, 

Philadelphia 38, Herald 18, 

New York 36, Norfolk 18, 

Insurgente 36, Richmond 18, 

Essex 32, Pinckney 18, 

General Greene 28, Warren 18, 

Adams 28, Eagle 14, 

John Adams 28, Pickering 14, 

Boston 28, Augusta 14, 

Geo. Washington .... 24, Scammel 14, 

Connecticut 24, Enterprise 12, 

Ganges 24, Experiment 12. 

Trumbull 24, 



1799.] NAVAL HISTORY. 135 

By this time, the revenue vessels, with the exception of one 
or two, appear to have been retained at home, and in the fore- 
going list, no mention is made of galleys. Laws had been 
previously passed for the construction of six seventy-fours, and 
contracts were already made for the collection of the necessary 
materials. 

The cruising portion of the vessels were distributed in two 
principal squadrons, the one on the St. Domingo station under 
the orders of Commodore Talbot, whose broad pennant was 
flying in the Constitution 44, and the other on the Guadaloupe 
station, under the orders, first of Commodore Truxtun, in the 
Constellation 38, and next under the orders of Commodore 
Decatur, in the Philadelphia 38. The force of the former 
varied from seven to twelve vessels, while that of the latter, in 
April, consisted of thirteen sail. 

Notwithstanding this exhibition of a respectable and active 
force, the great facilities offered by the islands, and the strong 
temptations that were to be found in the American West- India 
trade, then one of the most considerable of the country, induced 
the enemy to be constantly on the alert, and the seas were still 
swarming with French cruisers, principally privateers. Gua- 
daloupe, in particular, was distinguished for the number of 
captures made by its vessels ; and it was for this reason that 
we now find the heaviest American squadron cruising in that 
vicinity. 

On the 1st of February, 1800, the Constellation 38, Com- 
modore Truxtun, was again off the island of Guadaloupe, 
alone, Basseterre bearing east five leagues, when a sail was 
seen to the southeast, steering westward. Commodore Trux- 
tun at first supposed the ship in sight to be a large English 
merchantman, from Martinico, of which he had some know- 
ledge, and, unwilling to be drawn to leeward of his cruising 
ground, he hoisted English colours, by way of inducing her to 
run down and speak him. This invitation being disregarded, 
sail was made in chase, the Constellation gaining fast on the 
stranger. As the former drew nearer, the ship to leeward was 
discovered to be a French vessel of war, when the English 
colours were hauled down, and the Constellation cleared for 
action. The chase was now distinctly made out to be a heavy 
frigate mounting 52 guns. As her metal was in all probability 
equal to her rate, the only circumstance to equalise this dis- 
parity against the Constellation, was the fact that the stranger 



136 NAVAL HISTORY. [1779. 

was very deep, which was accounted for by a practice of send- 
ing valuable articles to France, at that time, in the ships of 
war, as the safest means of transmission. Commodore Trux- 
tun was not discouraged 153/ his discovery, but continued to 
carry every stitch of canvass that would draw. Towards 
noon, however, the wind became light, and the enemy had the 
advantage in sailing. In this manner, with variable breezes, 
and a smooth sea, the chase continued until noon on the 2d, 
when the wind freshened, and the Constellation again drew 
ahead. By the middle of the afternoon, the wind had every 
appearance of standing, and the chase was rising fast. It was 
eight in the evening, nevertheless, before the two ships were 
within speaking distance of each othex", the stranger having 
come up to the wind a little, and the Constellation doubling on 
her weather quarter. Commodore Truxtun was about to speak 
to the enemy, when the latter opened a fire from his stern and 
quarter guns. In a few moments the Constellation, having 
drawn still more on the weather quarter of the chase, poured in 
a broadside, and the action began in earnest. It was a little 
past eight when the firing commenced, and it was maintained 
with vigour until near one in the morning, the two ships, most 
of the time, running free, side by side, when the stranger 
hauled up, and drew out of the combat. Orders were given 
on board the Constellation to brace up in chase ; but at this 
moment, a report was brought to Commodore Truxtun that the 
main-mast was supported almost solely by the wood, every 
shroud having been shot away, and many of them so repeatedly 
cut as to render the use of stoppers impossible. At that time, 
as has been said already, masts were usually, in the American 
navy, of single sticks, and the spars, when they gave way, 
went altogether. Aware of this danger, Commodore Truxtun 
ordered the men from the guns, to secure this all-important 
mast, with the hope of getting alongside of his enemy again, 
and, judging by the feebleness of her resistance for the last 
hour, with the certainty of taking her, could this object be 
effected. But no exertion could obviate the calamity, the 
mast coming by the board within a few minutes after the ene- 
my had sheered off. All the topmen, including Mr. Jarvis, 
the midshipman in command aloft, went over the side with the 
spars, and, that gallant young officer, who had refused to 
abandon his post, with all but one man, was lost. 

The Constellation was no longer in a situation to resume 



1800.] NAVAL HISTORY. 137 

the action, and her enemy was in a far worse condition, with 
the exception that she still retained spars enough to enable her 
to escape. Finding it impossible to reach any friendly port to 
windward, as soon as the wreck was clear of his ship, Com- 
modore Truxtun bore up for Jamaica, where he arrived in 
safety. 

In this close and hard-fought action, the Constellation had 
14 men killed and 25 wounded, 11 of the latter dying of their 
injuries. Her antagonist afterwards got into Curacoa, dis- 
masted, and in a sinking condition, reporting herself to have 
had 50 of her people killed, and 110 wounded, in an engage- 
ment with the Constellation, that had lasted five hours within 
pistol-shot. This statement is now known to be essentially 
true, and it enables us to form a comparative estimate of the 
merits of the action. The French vessel proved to be la Ven- 
geance, Captain Pitot. 

The armament of the Constellation had been changed since 
lier action with the Insurgente, and her main-deck battery 
now consisted of 28 eighteens, and she had 10 twenty- four- 
pound carronades on her quarter-deck, which were among the 
first, if not the very first guns of this description ever intro- 
duced into the American navy. Her crew was composed of 
310 souls. 

The force of la Vengeance has been ascertained to have 
been 28 eighteens, 16 twelves, and 8 forty-two-pound carron- 
ades. Her crew has been variously stated as having been be- 
tween 400 and 500 men. The metal was all according to 
the French mode of weighing, which adds one pound to every 
twelve. 

There is no question that the Constellation engaged a ma- 
terially superior force, or any doubt that she would have 
brought la Vengeance into port, but for the loss of the mast. 
It is even said that la Vengeance did strike her colours three 
times, during the action, but finding that the Constellation con- 
tinued her fire, they were re-hoisted. If such an event, oc- 
curred, it must have arisen from the fact that it was not per- 
ceived in the obscurity of the night. Commodore Truxtun 
gained a great name by this action, and on his return to 
America for repairs, he was appointed to the President 44, then 
fitting for sea. Congress gave him a gold medal for his good 
conduct, and the gallantry of Mr. Jarvis was approved in a 
solemn resolution. The Constellation was now given to Cap- 
lain Murray, who had just returned from a short cruise in the 
12* 



138 NAVAL HISTORY. [1800. 

Insurgente, and that officer went in her to the West-Indies, 
where she joined the squadron under Commodore Talbot. 

The latter officer had been cruising for some months on the 
St. Domingo station, and about this time he planned an expe- 
dition that was quite in character with his own personal enter- 
prises during the war of the Revolution. 

It was ascertained that a valuable French letter of marque, 
was lying in Port Platte, a small harbour on the Spanish side 
of the Island of St. Domingo, and as she was a dangerous ship 
on account of her sailing, Commodore Talbot determined to 
attempt cutting her out. This vessel had been the British 
packet the Sandwich, and she only waited to complete a cargo 
of coffee, to make a run for France. The legality of the enter- 
prise was more than questionable, but the French picaroons 
received so much favour in the Spanish colonies, that the 
American officers were less scrupulous than they might other- 
wise have been. 

As soon as it was determined to make the effort, Mr. Hull, 
the first lieutenant of the Constitution went in, at night, with 
one of the frigate's cutters, and reconnoitred. Commodore 
Talbot was compelled to defer the expedition, for want of a 
craft proper to avoid suspicion, when fortunately one was 
found by accident. An American sloop called the Sally had 
been employed on the coast of the island, under circumstances 
that rendered her liable to detention, and she was brought out 
of one of the small French ports, by a boat of the frigate. 
This sloop had recently left Port Platte, with an intention of 
soon returning there, and she, at once, afforded all the facilities 
that could be desired. 

Commodore Talbot, accordingly, threw a party of seamen 
and marines into the Sally, and giving the command to Mr. 
Hull, that officer was directed to proceed on the duty without 
further delay. The sloop was manned at sea, to escape de- 
tection, and she sailed at an hour that would enable her to 
reach Port Platte, about noon of the succeeding day. In the 
course of the night, while running down for her port, under 
easy sail, a shot suddenly flew over the Sally, and, soon after, 
an English frigate ranged up alongside. Mr. Hull hove-to, 
and when the boarding lieutenant got on the sloop's deck, 
where he found so large a party of men and officers in naval 
uniforms, he was both startled and surprised. He was told 
the object of the expedition, however, and expressed his disap- 



1800.] NAVAL HISTORY. 139 

pointment, as his own ship was only waiting to let the Sand- 
wich complete her cargo, in order to cut her out herself! 

The Sally's movements were so well timed, as to permit her 
to arrive oft' the harbour's mouth at the proper hour. The 
Sandwich was lying with her broadside bearing on the ap- 
proach, and there was a battery at no great distance to protect 
her. As soon as near enough to be seen, Mr. Hull sent most 
of his people below, and getting an anchor ready over the 
stern, to bring the sloop up with, he stood directly for the 
enemy's bows. So admirably was every thing arranged, that 
no suspicion was excited, the Sally ran the Sandwich aboard, 
and the Constitution's people went into her, and carried her with- 
out the loss of a man. At the same moment, Captain Car- 
mick landed with the marines, entered the battery, and spiked 
the guns. 

Notwithstanding a great commotion on shore, the Americans 
now went to work to secure their prize. The Sandwich was 
stripped to a girtline, and every thing was below. Before sun- 
set she had royal yards across, her guns were scaled, her new 
crew was quartered, and soon after she weighed, beat out of the 
harbour, and joined the frigate. 

No enterprise of the sort was ever executed with greater 
steadiness, or discipline. Mr. Hull gained great credit by the 
neatness with which he fulfilled his orders, and it was not pos- 
sible for an officer to have been better sustained ; the absence 
of loss, in all cases of surprise, in which the assailed have the 
means of resistance, being one of the strongest proofs not only 
of the gallantry and spirit, but of the coolness of the assail- 
ants. 

In the end, however, this capture, which was clearly illegal, 
cost the Constitution dear. Not only was the Sandwich given 
up, but all the prize money of the cruise went to pay damages. 

Early in May, the Chesapeake 38, went to sea, under the 
command of Captain S. Barron. Her first duty was to convey 
a quantity of specie from Charleston to Philadelphia, after 
which she proceeded to cruise between the coast and the West- 
India islands. 

The Insurgente 36 had been given to Captain Fletcher, 
when Captain Murray was transferred to the Constellation, 
and in July she sailed on a cruise, with instructions to keep 
between longitudes 66° and 68°, and to run as far south as 
30° N. L. After this ship left the capes of Virginia, no au- 
thentic accounts, with the exception of a few private letters 



140 NAVAL HISTORY. [1800. 

sent in by vessels spoken at sea, were ever received of her. 
She had been ordered to cruise a short time in the latitude and 
longitude mentioned, after which her commander was left at 
liberty to pursue his own discretion, provided he returned to 
Annapolis within eight weeks. Thirty-nine years have elapsed 
and no further tidings of any belonging to this ill-fated ship 
have ever reached their friends. 

The Pickering 14, Captain Hillar, also sailed in August, for 
the Guadaloupe station, and never returned. As in the case 
of the Insurgente, all on board perished, no information that 
could be relied on ever having been obtained of the manner in 
which these vessels were lost. Vague rumours were set afloat 
at the time, and it was even affirmed that they had run foul 
of each other in a gale, a tale that was substantiated by no 
testimony, and which was probably untrue, as the Pickering 
was sent to a station, which the Insurgente, under discretionary 
orders, would be little apt to seek, since it was known to be 
already filled with American cruisers. These two ships swelled 
the list of vessels of war that had been lost in this manner to 
three, viz : the Saratoga 16, the Insurgente 36, and the Pick- 
ering 14 ; to which may be added the Reprisal 16, though the 
cook of the latter sloop was saved. 

The nature of the warfare, which was now confined princi- 
pally to chases and conflicts with small fast-sailing privateers, 
and a species of corsair that went by the local name of pica- 
roons, or with barges that ventured no great distance at sea, 
soon satisfied the government that, to carry on the service to 
advantage, it required a species of vessel different from the 
heavy, short, sloop of twenty, or twenty-four guns, of which 
so many were used in the beginning of the contest. Two 
schooners had been built with this view, and each of them 
fully proved their superiority over the old clumsy cruiser, that 
had been inherited, as it might be, from the Revolution. One 
of these vessels was called the Experiment, and the other the 
Enterprise, and they were rated at twelve guns. The modern 
improvements, however, did not extend to the armaments of 
even these schooners, the old-fashioned six-pounder being still 
used, where an 181b. carronade would now be introduced. 
The Enterprise, Lieutenant Commandant Shaw, was very ac- 
tive this year, capturing la Citoyenne, privateer, of 6 guns and 
47 men; la Seine 6, and 57 men; 1'Aigle 10, and 78 men; 
la Pauline 6, and 40 men ; and la Guadaloupeenne 7, and 45 
men. Most of these vessels resisted, though neither was of a 



1800.] NAVAL HISTORY. 141 

force to afford much hope of success. La Citoyenne had 4 
killed and 11 wounded before she struck; la Seine made an 
obstinate resistance, holding out until she had 24 of her crew 
killed and wounded, which was near half her complement ; 
and l'Aigle lost 12 men, among whom was her first lieutenant, 
in an action of fifteen minutes. In the last affair the Enter- 
prise had three men killed and wounded. 

Near the close of her cruise, the Enterprise made a strange 
sail a long distance to windward, late in the day, and hauled 
up for her. Night coming on, the chase was lost sight of in 
the darkness, when the schooner hove-to, to keep her station. 
When the day dawned the stranger, a brig, was seen to wind- 
ward as before, and nearly in the position in which she had 
last been observed. Both vessels now discovei'ed a disposition 
to close. At noon the Enterprise made the American signal, 
which was not answered, the brig showing English colours. 
The signals that had been established between the English and 
the American commanders were next shown, but the stranger 
could not reply. Believing the brig to be an enemy of a force 
at least equal to his own, Lieutenant Commandant Shaw now 
set his ensign as a challenge to come down, but, instead of 
complying, the chase immediately hauled his wind. The En- 
terprise began turning -to windward on short tacks, and sailing 
uncommonly 'fast, it was soon apparent that the enemy would 
be overhauled. 

As soon as the French were satisfied that escape was im- 
possible, they cleared for action, and waiting until the Enter- 
prise was within half a mile to leeward, they began to fire. 
Instead of returning a gun, Lieutenant Commandant Shaw 
kept the schooner under all her canvass, and, about half an 
hour after the brig had opened on him, he tacked in her 
wake, and ranged up handsomely under her lee, within pistol- 
shot. As her guns bore, the Enterprise now poured in a close 
and destructive fire, which lasted for a little more than an hour, 
when the brig's fore-topmast being shot away, and the vessel 
otherwise seriously injured, she struck. 

The prize was the Flambeau privateer. She mounted 14 
guns, and had more than 100 men. Her loss was very heavy, 
about half her crew having been killed and wounded. The 
Enterprise had 3 men killed and 7 wounded. This little affair 
was considered one of the warmest combats of the war, and 
it is seldom that so sharp a conflict occurs between vessels of 
so small a force. 



142 NAVAL HISTORY. [1800. 

Lieutenant Shaw was justly applauded for his activity while 
in command of this schooner, recapturing eleven American 
vessels, besides taking those just mentioned, in a cruise of only 
eight months. It was a proof of the greater efficiency of this 
description of vessel than any other, in a warfare of such a 
nature, that the Enterprise, a schooner of only 165 tons, car- 
rying an armament of 12 light guns, and with a crew that 
varied from 60 to 75 men, destroyed more of the enemy's pri- 
vateers, and afforded as much protection to the trade of the 
country, as any frigate employed in the war. 

In March, the Boston 28, Captain Little, being near the 
Point of St. Marks, having a merchant brig in tow, on her 
way to Port-au-Prince, nine barges were discovered pulling 
towards the vessels, coming from the small island of Gonaives, 
with every appearance of hostile intentions. The barges were 
large, as usual, pulled 20 oars, and contained from 30 to 40 
men each. As soon as their characters were properly made 
out, the guns of the Boston were housed, and the ship was other- 
wise disguised. This stratagem succeeded so far as to draw 
the barges within gun-shot ; but discovering their mistake be- 
fore they got as near as could be wished, they turned and be- 
gan to retreat. The Boston now cast off her tow, made sail 
in chase, ran out her guns, and opened her fire. For two 
hours she was enabled to keep some of the barges within 
reach of her shot, and three of them, with all their crews, 
were sunk. The remainder did not escape without receiving 
more or less injury. 

After this punishment of the picaroons, which were often 
guilty of the grossest excesses, the Boston, having been home 
to refit, was directed to cruise a short time, previously to go- 
ing on the Guadaloupe station again, between the American 
coast and the West-India islands. While in the discharge of 
this duty, November, 1800, in lat. 22° 50' N„ and long. 51° 
W., she made a French cruiser, which, instead of avoiding 
her, evidently sought an encounter. Both parties being will- 
ing, the ships were soon in close action, when, after a plain, 
hard-fought combat of two hours, the enemy struck. The 
prize proved to be the French corvette le Berceau, Captain 
Senes, mounting 24 guns, and with a crew a little exceeding 
200 men. The Berceau was much cut up, and shortly after 
the action her fore and main-masts went. Her loss in killed 
and wounded was never ascertained, but from the number of 
the latter found in her, it was probably between 30 and 40 



NAVAL HISTORY. 143 

men. Among the former were her first lieutenant, master, 
boatswain, and gunner. The Boston mounted eight more light 
guns than the Berceau, and had about an equal number of 
men. She had 4 killed and 11 wounded. Among the latter 
was her purser, Mr. Young, who died of his injuries. The 
Berceau was a singularly fine vessel of her class, and had the 
reputation of being one of the fastest ships in the French ma- 
rine. Like the combat between the Constellation and l'lnsur- 
gente, the superiority of force was certainly in favour of the 
American ship, on this occasion, but the execution was every 
way in proportion to the difference. 

The year 1800 was actively employed on both sides in the 
West-Indies, for while the force of the French in vessels of 
war seemed to decrease, as those of England and America 
increased, the privateers still abounded. A great many Ame- 
rican merchantmen were captured, and the recaptures also 
amounted to a number that it is now difficult to ascertain, but 
which is known to have been large. Most of the privateers 
were small schooners, filled with men, sufficient to subdue a 
letter of marque by boarding ; but, as they offered no resist- 
ance to any of the cruisers except the smallest, a brief cata- 
logue of the prizes taken by the different large vessels, will at 
once give an idea of the nature of the service that was per- 
formed by the West-India squadrons during this year. The 
Baltimore 20, Captain Cowper, took la Brilliante Jeunesse 12, 
with a crew of 62 men, and a vessel whose name is not known ; 
the Merrimack 24, Captain Brown, the Phenix 14, with 128 
men ; the Connecticut 24, Captain Tryon, le Piege 2, with 50 
men, l'Unite 1, with 50 men, and le Chou Chou ; the Boston 
28, Captain Little, la Fortune, l'Heureux, and an open boat ; 
Pickering 14, Captain Hillar, la Voltigeuse 10, with 60 men, 
the Fly, and l'Active 12, with 60 men ; Boston 32, in compa- 
ny with different vessels, the Flying Fish, la Gourde, le Peli- 
can, and PEspoir ; Herald 18 and Augusta 14, la Mutine 6, 
with 60 men ; John Adams 28, Captain Cross, le Jason, with 
50 men, la Decade ; the Trumbull 24, Captain Jewett, la Peg- 
gie, la Vengeance 10, and la Tullie ; Enterprise 12, Lieuten- 
ant Commandant Sterrett, I'Amour de la Patrie 6, with 72 
men; the Patapsco 18, Captain Geddes, la Dorade 6, with 
46 men ; the Adams 28, Captain Morris, l'Heureuse Rencon- 
tre 4, with 50 men, le Gambeau, 4 swivels and 16 men, la 
Renommee, the Dove, and le Massena 6, with 49 men. Sev- 
eral of the frigates also made prizes of different small priva- 



144 NAVAL HISTORY. [1800. 

teers, barges, and boats ; and many vessels were chased on 
shore, and either destroyed by boats or were bilged in striking. 
The privateers taken and brought into port, during the years 
1798, 1799, and 1800, amounted in all to rather more than 
fifty sail. To these must be added several letters of marque. 
But few merchant ships were taken, the French venturing but 
little on the ocean, except in fast-sailing armed vessels. Still, 
some valuable prizes of this nature were made, and several 
ships of this class were driven ashore among the islands. 

The constant changes that occurred among the commanders 
of the different vessels, render it difficult to give clear accounts 
of the movements of both. These changes were owing to the 
rapidity and irregularities of the promotions in an infant ser- 
vice, officers who went out at the commencement of the sea- 
son lieutenants, in many instances, returning home captains, 
at its close. In short, the officers, like the crews, were con- 
stantly passing from vessel to vessel, several serving in two or 
three ships in as many years. 

The Experiment 12, made her first cruise under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant Commandant Maley, and was much em- 
ployed in convoying through the narrow passages, where the 
vessels were exposed to attacks from large barges manned 
from the shores. About the close of the year 1799, or at the 
commencement of 1800, this schooner was becalmed in the 
Bight of Leogane, with several sail of American merchantmen 
in company and under convoy. While the little fleet lay in 
this helpless condition, a good deal scattered, ten of the barges 
mentioned, filled with negroes and mulattoes, came out against 
it. The barges contained from 30 to 40 men each, who were 
armed with muskets, cutlasses, and pikes, and in some of the 
boats were light guns and swivels. As the Experiment was 
partially disguised, the enemy came within reach of her grape 
before the assault was made, when Lieutenant Commandant 
Maley ran out his guns and opened his fire. This was the 
commencement of a long conflict, in which the barges were 
beaten off. It was not in the power of the Experiment, how- 
ever, to prevent the enemy from seizing two of her convoy, 
which had drifted to such a distance as to be beyond protec- 
tion. A third vessel was also boarded, but from her the brig- 
ands were driven by grape, though not until they had murder- 
ed her master and plundered the cabin. 

The barges went twice to the shore, landed their killed and 
wounded, and took on board reinforcements of men. The 



1800.] NAVAL HISTORY. 145 

second attack they made was directed especially at the Ex- 
periment, there being no less than three divisions of the enemy, 
each of which contained three heavy barges. But, after a pro- 
tracted engagement, which, with the intermissions, lasted seven 
hours, the enemy abandoned further designs on this convoy, 
and retreated in disorder. The Experiment endeavoured to 
follow, by means of her sweeps, but finding that some of the 
more distant of the barges threatened two of her convoy that 
had drifted out of gun-shot, she was obliged to give up the 
chase. 

In this arduous and protracted engagement the Experiment 
was fought with spirit, and handled with skill. The total ab- 
sence of wind gave the enemy every advantage ; but notwith- 
standing their vast superiority in numbers, they did not dare 
to close. Two of the barges were sunk, and their loss in 
killed and wounded was known to have been heavy, while the 
Experiment had but two wounded, one of whom was Lieutenant 
David Porter. 

Shortly after this affair, the command of the Experiment was 
given to Lieutenant Charles Stewart, late of the United States 
44. Not long after he had got upon his station, this officer 
fell in with, and took, after a slight resistance, the French 
privateer les Deux Amis, of 8 guns, and between 40 and 50 
men. The Deux Amis was sent in. 

About a month after this occurrence, while cruising on her 
station, the Experiment made two sail, which had the appear- 
ance of enemy's cruisers. The Frenchmen were a brig of 
18 guns, and a three-masted schooner of 14, and they gave 
chase to the American. Lieutenant-Commandant Stewart, 
having soon satisfied himself of the superior sailing of his own 
vessel, manoeuvred in a way to separate the enemy, and to 
keep them at a distance until after dark. At length, finding 
that the Frenchmen had given up the chase, and that the brig 
was about a league ahead of the schooner, he cleared for ac- 
tion, closed with the latter, by running up on her weather 
quarter, and gave her a broadside. The attack was so vigor- 
ous and close, that the enemy struck in a few minutes. Throw- 
ing his first lieutenant, Mr. David Porter, into the prize, Lieu- 
tenant-Commandant Stewart immediately made sail after the 
brig ; but she had gained so much ahead, during the time lost 
with the schooner, that she was soon abandoned, and the Ex- 
periment returned to her prize, which she carried into St. Kitts. 
13 



146 NAVAL HISTORY. [1800. 

Mr. Stewart probably owed his success to the boldness of his 
manoeuvres, as the brig was of a force sufficient to capture 
him in a few minutes. 

The vessel taken by the Experiment proved to be the French 
man-of-war schooner la Diane, Lieutenant Perradeau, of 14 
guns, and about 60 men. She was bound to France, with 
General Rigaud on board ; and in addition to her regular crew, 
30 invalid soldiers had been put in her, having served their 
time in the islands. Her commander had been the first lieu- 
tenant of l'lnsurgente, and the prize-officer of the Retaliation. 

Returning to her station, the Experiment had next a combat 
that was of a less agreeable nature. A suspicious sail had 
been made in the course of the day, and chase was given until 
dark. Calculating the courses and distances, Lieutenant-Com- 
mandant Stewart ordered the Experiment to be kept in the re- 
quired direction until midnight, when, if he did not close with 
the stranger, he intended to give up the chase. At that hour, 
the schooner was hauled by the wind, accordingly ; but, in a few 
minutes, a sail was seen quite near, and to windward. The 
Experiment went to quarters, ran up under the stranger's lee, 
and hailed. Finding the other vessel indisposed to give an 
answer, Lieutenant-Commandant Stewart ordered a gun fired 
into him, which was returned by a broadside. A sharp action 
now commenced, but, it blowing heavily, and the schooner 
lying over, it was found impossible to depress the guns suffi- 
ciently to hull the enemy. Planks were cut and placed be- 
neath the trucks of the gun-carriages, when the shot of the 
Experiment told with so much effect, that her antagonist 
struck. Mr. Porter, the first lieutenant of the Experiment, 
was directed to take possession of the prize, but, on getting 
alongside, he was refused permission to board. As soon as 
this was known in the schooner, the boat was directed to pull 
out of the line of fire, with a view to re-commence the action, 
when the stranger hailed to say he submitted. 

This vessel proved to be a privateer called the Louisa 
Bridger, out of Bermuda, with an armament of 8 nine-pound- 
ers, and a crew of between 40 and 50 men. She was much 
cut up, and had four feet water in her hold when she surren- 
dered. Her captain was among the wounded. 

As soon as the nature of this unfortunate mistake was 
known, every aid was afforded the privateer, the Experiment 
lying by her all next day, to assist in repairing her damages. 



1800-01.] NAVAL HISTORY. 147 

The Experiment received a good deal of injury in her rigging, 
and had one man killed, and a boy wounded. 

Active negotiations had commenced, and in the autumn of 
1800 the hopes of peace became so strong, that the efforts to 
increase the navy were sensibly relaxed, and the sailing of 
many ships, that had been intended for distant stations, was 
suspended. 

Negotiations for peace with France had been going on at 
Paris, and a treaty to that effect was ratified by the Senate, on 
the 3d of February, 1801. All the necessary forms having 
been complied with on both sides, the Herald 18, Captain Rus- 
sel, was sent to the West-Indies, with orders of recall for the 
whole force. 

Thus ended the short and irregular struggle with France, 
in which the present marine of the United States was founded, 
most of the senior officers now in service having commenced 
their careers as midshipmen during its existence. 

The commencement of the year 1801, was distinguished by 
a change of administration, for the first time since the adoption 
of the constitution ; Mr. Jefferson and his political friends, who 
were usually known by the name of the republican party, ex- 
pelling the federalists from power. A president of the United 
States, however, is little more than an executive officer while 
confined to the circle of his constitutional duties ; and the 
Congress that terminated on the 4th of March, 1801, the day 
the change occurred, had passed a law, in some measure regu- 
lating a peace establishment for the navy. This law gave 
great discretionary authority to the president, it is true ; for it 
empowered him, whenever he should deem it expedient, to sell 
any, or all of the vessels of the navy, with the exception of 
thirteen of the frigates, which were named in the act, if, in his 
opinion the good of the country might require it. To this part 
of the law no great objections could be taken, even by the 
friends of an enlarged and liberal policy, as most of the vessels 
not excepted had been bought into, and were unsuited to the 
service, more especially at a period, when new. improvements 
in naval architecture, that had been borrowed from the French, 
were fast superseding the old mode of construction. 

The law also directed the guns and stores of the vessels sold 
to be preserved ; a provision that proved singularly unprofita- 
ble in the end, as the carronade now began to supersede the 
small long gun, and two of the sloops would probably have 



148 NAVAL HISTORY. [1801. 

furnished all the nines and sixes that have been used in the navy 
for the last five-and-thirty years. The great error of this law 
was in the limitation it set to the number of the different ranks 
of officers. The whole of the sea-officers, sailing-masters ex- 
cepted, were confined to nine captains, thirty-six lieutenants, 
and one hundred and fifty midshipmen ; the rank of master 
commandant being abolished, should the president see fit to dis- 
charge those then in commission. The phraseology, as well 
as the provisions of this law, betrayed that ignorance of the 
details of the service, which has been so common in the legis- 
lation of the country, omitting many directions that were indis- 
pensable in practice, and laying stress on others that were of 
little or no moment. , 

The administration of 1801 exercised its authority under the 
statute, which, it will be remembered, was enacted previously 
to its accession to office, with a reasonable discretion ; and 
though it may have made a few of those mistakes that are in- 
cidental to the discharge of all such trusts, it conformed to the 
spirit of the law, with a due regard to liberality. The selec- 
tion of the officers to be retained was one of great delicacy and 
importance, as the future character of the navy depended more 
on the proper discharge of this duty than on that of any otheiv 
The great defect of the law, indeed, was the narrow limits to 
which the list of the superior sea-officers was confined, it being 
at all times easier to build ships, than to form professional men 
fit to command them. This part of his delegated duties the 
president discharged in perfect good faith, apparently altogether 
disregarding party considerations. 

Although some meritorious officers were necessarily dis- 
missed, on this occasion, there is no question that the navy 
was greatly benefited by the reduction ; the hurried manner 
in which the appointments were originally made, having been 
the means of introducing many persons into the service who 
were unfitted for its duties. 

The law of Congress directed that thirteen vessels, named 
in the act, should not be disposed of, leaving it discretionary 
with the president to sell the remainder or not. The following 
ships were retained, viz : 

Constitution 44, 

United States 44, 

President 44, 



1801] NAVAL HISTORY. 149 

Congress 38, 

Constellation 38, 

Chesapeake 38, 

Philadelphia 38, 

New York 36, 

Essex 32, 

General Greene 28, 

Boston 28, 

Adams 28, 

John Adams 28, 

Enterprise 12. 

The reduction of the navy was greatly exaggerated at the 
time, so far as the vessels alone were concerned. At the peace 
with France, the cruising vessels in the service were thirty- 
four in number, and of these, fourteen of the best were retained. 
No frigate, unless the George Washington could be considered 
one, was sold, and this ship had been purchased into the ser- 
vice, and not built for the public. As regards force, materially 
more than one-half, perhaps four-fifths, was preserved, the 
eight largest frigates retained being more than strong enough 
to contend with all the vessels sold. 

13* 



150 NAVAL HISTORY. f!801. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

We have now reached the period when the American 
marine assumed a fixed and permanent character. No more 
reductions were anticipated by those who understood the ne- 
cessities of the country, nor have any ever been seriously at- 
tempted. 

As early as in 1800, the Bashaw of Tripoli, Jussuf Cara- 
malli, who had deposed his brother Hamet, and now sat on 
the throne of this dependency of the Porte, manifested a dispo- 
sition to war. He had learned the concessions made to Al- 
giers, the manner in which the Dey of that regency had been 
bribed to do justice, and, by a course of reasoning that was 
certainly plausible, if not true, he inferred that the government 
which had been induced to pay tribute to one pirate, might be 
induced to pay tribute to another. The complaints on which 
this semblance of royalty grounded his justification for war, 
are such as ought to be generally known. He accused the 
American government of having bribed the subordinates of 
Tunis at a higher price than it had bribed him ; he added, that 
Algiers had received a frigate, while he had received none ; 
and even in a letter to the president he said significantly, in 
reply to some of the usual diplomatic professions of friendship, 
*' we could wish that these your expressions were followed by 
■deeds, and not by empty words. You will therefore endea- 
vour to satisfy us by a good manner of proceeding" — " But if 
only flattering words are meant, without performance, every 
one will act as he finds convenient. We beg a speedy answer, 
without neglect of time, as a delay on your part cannot but be 
prejudicial to your interests." 

Shortly after, the Bashaw informed the American consul at 
Tripoli, that he would wait six months for a present in money, 
and if it did not arrive within that time, he would formally 
declare war against the United States. Jussuf Caramalli was 
as good as his word. No tidings of the money having reached 
Tripoli, the flag-staff* of the American consulate was cut down 
on the 14th of May, 1801, and war was proclaimed in the act. 

While Tripoli went so directly to work, difficulties existed 
with the other states of Barbary. Algiers complained that the 



1801.] NAVAL HISTORY. 151 

tribute was in arrears, and Tunis found fault with the quality 
of various articles that had been sent to her, by way of bribing 
her not to seize American vessels. Certain planks and oars 
were too short, and guns of a particular description were much 
wanted. Morocco was also distrusted, although the prince of 
that country had not yet deigned to intimate his wishes. 

Timid as was the policy of the United States, and disgrace- 
ful as was that of all Christendom, at that period, in reference 
to the Barbary powers, the former was too much flushed with 
its recent successes against France, and too proud of its infant 
marine, to submit to all these exactions without resistance. 
Before it was known that Tripoli had actually declared war, a 
squadron was ordered to be fitted for the Mediterranean, with 
a view to awe the different sovereigns of Barbary, by its 
presence. The vessels selected for this purpose consisted of 
the President 44, Captain J. Barron ; Philadelphia 38, Captain 
S. Barron ; Essex 32, Captain Bainbridge, and Enterprise 12, 
Lieutenant Commandant Sterrett. At the head of this force 
was Captain Dale, an officer whose career we have had fre- 
quent occasion to notice, and who now hoisted his broad pen- 
nant in the President 44. 

The ships rendezvoused in Hampton Roads, and sailed for 
their place of destination. On the 1st of July they anchored 
at Gibraltar, where they found the Tripolitan admiral, a rene- 
gado of the name of Lisle, in a ship of 26 guns, with a brig 
of 16, in company. There is no question that the timely 
appearance of the American squadron prevented these two 
vessels from getting into the Atlantic, where they might have 
struck a severe blow at the commerce of the country. The 
admiral, however, protested there was no war, though the 
information derived from other sources, induced Commodore 
Dale to distrust his sincerity. The Essex was sent along the 
north shore to collect the American trade, and to give it con- 
voy ; the Philadelphia was ordered to cruise in the straits to 
watch the two Tripolitans, while the President and Enterprise 
shaped their course towards Algiers, as ordered. The latter, 
however, soon parted company from the President on duty. 

The appearance of a ship of the President's force at Algiers 
and Tunis, had an extremely quieting effect on the resentments 
of their two princes ; and Mr. O'Brien, the consul at the former 
regency, gave it as his opinion, that the arrival of the squadron 
in the Mediterranean, had more weight in preserving the peace, 



152 NAVAL HISTORY. [1801. 

than if the George Washington, which vessel was soon ex- 
pected, had come in with the tribute. 

On the 1st of August, while running for Malta, the Enter- 
prise 12, Lieutenant Commandant Sterrett, fell in with and 
spoke a polacre-rigged ship of 14 guns and 80 men, belonging 
to Tripoli, that was known to be out on a cruise against the 
American commerce. Running close alongside, an action was 
commenced within pistol-shot, and it continued with little in- 
termission for three hours, when the Turk submitted. During 
the combat, however, the Tripolitan struck three several times, 
twice re-hoisting his colours, and opening his fire again, when 
he thought an advantage might be obtained by attacking the 
Americans unprepared. Irritated by this treachery, on the 
last occasion the Enterprise resumed her fire, with an intention 
to sink her opponent, but after some further though fruitless 
resistance, the Turkish captain appeared in the waist of his 
ship, and threw his ensign into the sea, bending his body and 
supplicating for quarter by signs, when the fire of the schooner 
was stopped. 

The name of the captured ship was the Tripoli, and that of 
her rais, or commander, Mahomet Sous. Although the Turks 
showed courage — desperation would be a better term — this 
first trial of skill with their trans-atlantic enemies was far from 
creditable to them. The Enterprise raked her enemy repeat- 
edly, and the consequences were dreadfully apparent in the 
result, 50 of the corsair's people having been killed and 
wounded in the battle. The ship herself was a wreck, and 
her mizzen-mast was shot away. On the other hand, the 
Enterprise sustained but little injury even aloft, and had not a 
man hurt. Neither did she suffer materially in her hull. 

The instructions of Lieutenant Sterrett did not permit him 
to carry the Tripoli in, and Lieutenant David Porter took pos- 
session, and proceeded to dismantle her. Her armament was 
thrown overboard, and she was stripped of every thing but one 
old sail, and a single spar, that were left to enable her to reach 
port. After attending to the wounded, the prize was aban- 
doned, and it is understood a long time elapsed before she 
got in. When her unfortunate rais appeared in Tripoli, even 
his wounds did not avail him. He was placed on a jackass, 
paraded through the streets, and received the bastinado. The 
effect of this punishment appears to have been different from 
what was expected, for it is said the panic among the sailors 
became so great, in consequence, that it was found difficult to 



1801.] naval History. 153 

obtain men for the corsairs that were then fitting for sea. 
One thing is certain, that, though this war lasted three years, 
and in the end became both spirited and active, very few Tri- 
politan cruisers ventured from port during its continuance ; or 
if they quitted port, they were cautious to an extreme about 
venturing from the land. 

The President appeared off Tripoli on the 24th of August, 
when an ineffectual attempt was made to establish a truce. 
Remaining eighteen days in the vicinity of the town, and dis- 
covering no movement in or about the port, Commodore Dale 
ran down the coast some distance, when he crossed over to 
Malta, in order to water his ship. As soon as this necessary 
duty was performed, the President returned to Tripoli, and on 
the 30th of August, she overhauled a Greek ship bound in, 
with a cargo of merchandise and provisions. On board this 
vessel was an officer and twenty Tripolitan soldiers besides 
twenty other subjects of the regency. All these persons were 
taken on board the frigate, and an attempt was made, by 
means of this lucky capture, to establish a system of exchange. 
The negotiations were carried on through Mr. Nissen, the 
Danish consul, a gentleman whose name, by means of his be- 
nevolence, philanthropy, and probity, has become indissolubly 
connected with the history of the American marine. 

It was soon discovered that the Bashaw cared very little 
about his subjects, as he declared that he would not exchange 
one American for all the soldiers. There was a little of the 
art of the negotiator in this, however, as he agreed in the end 
to give three Americans for all the soldiers, the officer in- 
cluded, and three more for eight of the merchants, disclaiming 
the remaining six merchants as his subjects. Commodore 
Dale appears to have become disgusted with this unworthy 
mode of bargaining, for he sent his prisoners on board the 
Greek again, and allowed the ship to go into Tripoli, relin- 
quishing his claim on the merchants altogether as non-com- 
batants, and consenting to take the three Americans for the 
soldiers. 

Finding it necessary to go down to Gibraltar, the commo- 
dore now left Tripoli, and proceeded direct to the former place. 
He was soon succeeded by the Essex, which also appeared off 
the different Barbary ports. 

In the mean time, the two Tripolitan cruisers at Gibraltar, 
on its being ascertained that it was impossible for them to get 
out while they were so closely watched, were dismantled, and 



154 NAVAL HISTORY. [1802. 

their crews were privately sent across to Tetuan in boats, to 
find their way home by land ; men enough being left to 
take care of the ships, and to navigate them, should an oppor- 
tunity occur to get to sea. The Bashaw complained loudly 
of the blockade, as an innovation on the received mode of 
warfare ; and the governments of Algiers and Tunis, which 
appeared to distrust the precedent, manifested a disposition to 
join in the protest. The Dey of Algiers even went so far as 
to ask passports for the crews of the two vessels at Gibraltar, 
with a view to aid his neighbour ; but the request was denied. 

The return of Commodore Dale's squadron was ordered to 
take place on the 1st of December, at the latest ; but discre- 
tionary powers appear to have been subsequently given to 
him, as he left the Philadelphia and Essex behind him, and 
proceeded home with his own ship and the Enterprise. The 
practice of entering men for only a twelvemonth still prevailed, 
and it was often imperative on vessels to quit stations at the 
most unfortunate moments. The Philadelphia was left to 
watch the Tripolitans, making Syracuse in Sicily her port of 
resort ; while the Essex was kept at the straits, to blockade the 
two vessels at Gibraltar, and guard the passage into the Atlan- 
tic. Both ships gave convoys when required. 

Thus ended the first year of the war with Tripoli. Al- 
though little had been effected towards bringing the enemy to 
terms, much was done in raising the tone and discipline of the 
service. At Gibraltar, Malta, and other ports, the finest 
cruisers of Great Britain were constantly met ; and the Ame- 
rican ships proving to be entirely their equals, in construction, 
sailing, and manoeuvring, a strong desire was soon excited to 
render them, in all other respects, as good as those that were 
then deemed the model-ships of the world. A similar oppor- 
tunity had occurred while cruising in the West-Indies ; but 
then a large proportion of the vessels employed were of infe- 
rior qualities, and some of the officers were unfit to hold com- 
missions in any service. All the purchased ships had now 
been sold, and the reduction law had cleared the lists of those 
who would be likely to lessen the ambition, or alarm the pride 
of an aspiring and sensitive marine. Each day added to the 
knowledge, tone, esprit de corps, and seamanship of the 
younger officers ; and as these opportunities continued to in- 
crease throughout the whole of the Mediterranean service, the 
navy rapidly went on improving, until the commander of an 
American ship was as ready to meet comparisons, as the com- 
mander of any vessel of war that floated. 



1802.] NAVAL HISTORY. 155 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Early in the year 1802, Congress enacted laws that obvi- 
ated some constitutional scruples of the executive, and which 
fully authorised the capture and condemnation of any Tripo- 
litan vessels that might be found. It is worthy of remark, 
that this law itself did not contain a formal declaration of war, 
while it provided for all the contingencies of such a state of 
things, even to empowering the president to issue commissions 
to privateers and letters of marque ; and it may be inferred 
from this fact, that it was supposed the act of the enemy was 
sufficient to render the country technically a belligerent. One 
of the sections of this law, however, was of great service to 
the navy, by enabling crews to be shipped for two years. 

As the President and Enterprise had returned home, and 
the time of service of the people of the two ships that were 
left in the Mediterranean was nearly up, preparations were 
now made to send out a relief squadron. For this service the 
following ships were commissioned, viz. the Chesapeake 38, 
Lieutenant Chauncey, acting captain ; Constellation 38, Cap- 
tain Murray ; New York 36, Captain James Ban'on ; John 
Adams 28, Captain Rodgers ; Adams 28, Captain Campbell ; 
and Enterprise 12, Lieutenant Commandant Sterrett. Com- 
modore Truxtun was selected to command this squadron, and 
he had proceeded to Norfolk for that purpose, when a question 
arising about allowing him a captain in the flag-ship, he was 
induced to resign. Commodore Morris was appointed to suc- 
ceed Commodore Truxtun, and shortly after he hoisted his 
broad pennant in the Chesapeake. 

The vessels fitting for the Mediterranean being in different 
states of forwardness, and there existing a necessity for the 
immediate appearance of some of them in that sea, they did 
not sail in a squadron, but as each was ready. The Enterprise 
was the first that left home, sailing in February ; and she was 
followed, in March, by the Constellation. The Chesapeake 
did not get out until April, and the Adams followed her in June. 
The two other ships were detained until September. There 
was, however, one other vessel at sea, all this time, to which it 
will be necessary to make a brief allusion. 



156 NAVAL HISTORY. [.1802. 

Shortly after his accession to office, in 1801, Mr. Jefferson 
appointed Mr. Robert R. Livingston minister to France, and the 
Boston 28, Captain M'Niell, was directed to carry the new en- 
voy to his place of destination. This duty performed, the 
ship had been ordered to join the squadron in the Mediterra- 
nean, for service in that sea. The departure of the Boston 
was so timed as to bring her on the station under both com- 
mands, that of Commodore Dale, and that of Commodore 
Morris. This cruise has become memorable in the service, 
on account of the eccentricities of the officer in command of the 
ship. After encountering a heavy gale of wind in the Bay of 
Biscay, in which he showed perfect seamanship, and the utmost 
coolness, under circumstances particularly trying, Captain 
M'Niell landed his passengers, and proceeded to the Mediter- 
ranean. Here he cruised for some time, avoiding his senior 
officers, whenever he could, passing from port to port, appear- 
ing off Tripoli, and occasionally affording a convoy. After a 
time, the Boston returned home, and was put out of commis- 
sion, her commander quitting the service under the reduction 
law. The Essex and Philadelphia also returned home, as soon 
as relieved. 

We have now reached the summer of 1802, and must con- 
fine the narrative of events to the movements of the different 
vessels that composed the squadron under the orders of Com- 
modore Morris. In some respects, this was the best appointed 
force that had ever sailed from America. The ships were well 
officered and manned, and the crews had been entered for two 
years, or double the usual period. The powers given to the 
commanding officer, appear to have been more ample than 
common ; and so strong was the expectation of the government 
that his force was sufficient to bring the enemy to terms, that 
Commodore Morris was associated with Mr. Cathcart, the late 
consul at Tripoli, in a commission to negotiate a peace. He 
was also empowered to obtain gun-boats, in order to protect 
the American trade in the Straits of Gibraltar. 

As there were no means of bringing the Bashaw of Tripoli 
to terms but blockade and bombardment, two material errors 
seem to have been made in the composition of the force em- 
ployed, which it is necessary to mention. There was no fri- 
gate in this squadron that carried a long gun heavier than an 
eighteen-pounder, nor was there any mortar vessel. Heavy 
carronades had come into use, it is true, and most ships carri- 
ed more or less of them ; but these are guns unsuited to batter- 



1802.] NAVAL HISTORY. 157 

ing under any circumstances, and were particularly unfitted 
for an assault on works that it is difficult to approach very near, 
on account of reefs of rocks. There was also a singular de- 
ficiency in small vessels, without which a close blockade of a 
port like Tripoli, was extremely difficult, if not impossible. It 
will be remembered, that the schooner Enterprise was the only 
vessel left in the navy by the reduction law, that was not fri- 
gate-built, and none had yet been launched to supply the de- 
fect. The government, however, had become aware of the 
great importance of light cruisers, and several were laid down 
in the summer of this year, under authority granted for that 
purpose. 

As has been seen, the Enterprise 12, Lieutenant Command- 
ant Sterrett, was the first vessel of the new squadron that 
reached the Mediterranean. She was soon followed by the 
Constellation 38, Captain Murray, which ship arrived off Tri- 
poli early in May, where she found the Boston 28, Captain 
M'Niell, blockading the port. The latter ship, in a few days, 
quitted the station, and never re-appeared on it. A Swedish 
cruiser was also off the port, assisting to blockade.* 

After being off the port some time, the Constellation was 
lying three or four leagues from the town, when the look-out 
aloft reported several small vessels to the westward, stealing 
along shore. The wind was quite light, and the Swedish fri- 
gate, at the moment, was a long distance outside. Sail was 
got on the Constellation, and towards noon the strangers were 
made out to be seventeen Tripolitan gun-boats, which, as it 
was afterwards ascertained, had gone out at night, with the 
intention of convoying into port, an American prize that was 
expected from Tunis, but which had failed to appear. Fortu- 
nately the wind freshened as the Constellation drew in with 
the land, and about one o'clock hopes were entertained of cut- 
ting off all, or a portion of the enemy. The latter were divi- 
ded into two divisions, however, and that which led, by pull- 
ing directly to windward, effected its escape. The division 
in the rear, consisting of ten boats, was less fortunate, the 
Constellation being enabled to get it, for a short time, under 
her fire. 

The wind blew nearly from the direction of the town, and 
the Tripolitans still endeavoured to cross the bows of the ship, 

* Sweden was at war with Tripoli, at this time, also ; but peace was 
made in the course of the summer. 
14 



158 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

as she was standing in; but Captain Murray, having run into 
ten fathoms, opened upon the enemy, time enough to cut off all 
but one boat of the rear division. This boat, notwithstanding 
a hot discharge of grape, succeeded in getting to windward, 
and was abandoned to attend to the remainder. The enemy 
now opened a fire in return, but the Constellation having, by 
this time, got the nearest boats fairly under her broadside, soon 
compelled the whole nine to bear up, and to pull towards the 
shore. Here they got into nooks behind the rocks, or in the 
best places of refuge that offered, while a large body of cavalry 
appeared on the sand-hills above them, to prevent a landing. 
Deeming it imprudent to send in the boats of a single frigate 
against so formidable a force, Captain Murray wore and stood 
off shore, soon after speaking the Swede, who had not been 
able to close in time to engage. 

This little affair was the first that occurred off the port of 
Tripoli, in this war ; and it had the effect of rendering the ene- 
my very cautious in his movements. The gun-boats were a 
good deal cut up, though their loss was never ascertained. 
The cavalry, also, suffered materially, and it was said that an 
officer of high rank, nearly allied to the Bey, was killed. The 
Constellation sustained some trifling damage aloft, but the gun- 
boats were too hard pressed to render their fire very serious. 
The batteries opened upon the ship, also, on this occasion, but 
all their shot fell short. 

After waiting in vain for the re-appearance of the Boston, 
Captain Murray was compelled to quit the station for want of 
water, when Tripoli was again left without any force before it. 

The Chesapeake 38, Acting Captain Chauncey, wearing the 
broad pennant of Commodore Morris, reached Gibraltar May 
25th, 1802, where she found the Essex 32, Captain Bain- 
bridge, still blockading the Tripolitan cruisers. The latter ves- 
sel was sent home, and the Chesapeake, which had need of 
repairs, having sprung her mainmast, continued in the straits 
for the purpose of refitting, and of watching the enemy. Com- 
modore Morris also deemed it prudent to observe the move- 
ments of the government of Morocco, which had manifested a 
hostile disposition. The arrival of the Adams 28, Captain 
Campbell, late in July, finally placed the flag-ship at liberty, 
and she sailed with a convoy to various ports on the north 
shore, having the Enterprise in company. This long delay 
below, of itself, almost defeated the possibility of acting effi- 



1803.] NAVAL HISTORY. 159 

ciently against the town of Tripoli that summer, since, further 
time being indispensable to collect the different vessels and to 
make the necessary preparations, it would bring the ships be- 
fore that place too late in the season. The fault, however, if 
fault there was, rested more with those who directed the pre- 
parations at home, than with the commanding officer, as the 
delay at Gibraltar would seem to have been called for by cir- 
cumstances. The Chesapeake, following the north shore, and 
touching at many ports, anchored in the roads of Leghorn, on 
the 12th of October. At Leghorn the Constellation was met, 
which ship shortly after returned home, in consequence of a 
discretionary power that had been left with the Commodore. 
Orders were now sent to the different vessels of the squadron 
to rendezvous at Malta, whither the Commodore proceeded 
with his own ship. Here, in the course of the month of Jan- 
uary, 1803, were assembled the Chesapeake 38, Acting Cap- 
tain Chauncey ; New York 36, Captain J. Barron ; John 
Adams 28, Captain Rodgers, and Enterprise 12, Lieutenant 
Commandant Sterrett. Of the remaining vessels that had been 
put under the orders of Commodore Morris, the Constellation 
38, Captain Murray, had gone into a Spanish port to repair 
some damages received in a gale of wind, and she shortly 
after sailed for home ; the Boston 28, Captain M'Niell, had 
not joined, and the Adams 28, Captain Campbell, was cruising 
off Gibraltar. On the 30th of January, 1803, the ships first 
named left Malta with an intention to go off Tripoli, but a se- 
vere gale coming on, which lasted eleven days, the Commo- 
dore was induced to bear up, and to run down to Tunis, where 
it was understood the presence of the squadron would be use- 
ful. On the 11th* of March he left Tunis, touched at Algiers, 
and anchored again at Gibraltar on the 23d of the month. 

The reason assigned for carrying the ships below, when it 
had been the original design to appear off the enemy's port, 
was the want of provisions, as well as to make the transfers and 
arrangements dependent on shifting the pennant of the com- 
manding officer, from the Chesapeake to the New York, the 
former ship having been ordered home by the navy depart- 
ment. The squadron was now reduced to the New York 36, 
the Adams 28, the John Adams 28, and the Enterprise 12. 
Acting Captain Chauncey accompanied the Commodore to the 
first of these vessels, and Captain Barron was transferred to 
the Chesapeake. The Adams was despatched with a convoy, 



160 NAVAL HISTORY. t 1803 ' 

with orders to go off Tripoli, as soon as the first duty was per- 
formed. 

The ships appear to have been detained some time at Malta 
by the repairs that were rendered necessary in consequence 
of* an accident that had occurred to the New York. On the 
3d of May, however, the John Adams was sent off Tripoli, 
alone, with orders to blockade that port. Shortly after this 
ship reached her station, she made a sail in the offing, which 
she intercepted. This vessel proved to be the Meshouda, one 
of the cruisers that had been so long blockaded at Gibraltar, 
and which was now endeavouring to get home under an as- 
sumed character. She had been sold by the Bashaw to the 
Emperor of Morocco, who had sent her to Tunis, where she 
had taken in supplies, and was now standing boldly for the 
harbour of Tripoli. The reality of the transfer was doubted, 
and as she was attempting to evade a legal blockade, the Me- 
shouda was detained. 

About the close of the month, Commodore Morris hove in 
sight, in the New York, with the Adams and Enterprise in 
company. As the flag-ship neared the coast, several small 
vessels, convoyed by a number of gun-boats, were discovered 
close in with the land, making the best of their way towards 
the port. Chase was immediately given, and finding them- 
selves cut off from the harbour, the merchant vessels, eleven 
in all, took refuge in old Tripoli, while the gun-boats, by 
means of their sweeps, were enabled to pull under the batte- 
ries of the town itself. No sooner did the vessels, small latine- 
rigged coasters loaded with wheat, get into Old Tripoli, than 
preparations were made to defend them. A large stone build- 
ing stood on a bank some twelve or fifteen feet from the shore, 
and it was occupied by a considerable body of soldiers. In 
the course of the night, breast-works were erected on each 
side of this building, by means of the sacks of wheat which 
composed the cargoes of the feluccas. The latter were hauled 
upon the beach, high and dry, immediately beneath the build- 
ing, and a large force was brought from Tripoli, to man the 
breast-works. 

Mr. Porter, the first lieutenant of the flag-ship, volunteered 
to go in that night, with the boats of the squadron, and destroy 
the enemy's craft ; but, unwilling to expose his people under 
so much uncertainty, the commodore decided to wait for day- 
light, in order that the ships might co-operate, and in the hope 
of intimidating the Tripolitans by a show of all his force. 



1803.] NAVAL HISTORY. 161 

Mr. Porter, however, went in alone and reconnoitred in the 
dark, receiving a heavy fire from the musketry of the troops 
when discovered. 

Next morning, the offer of Mr. Porter was accepted, and 
sustained by Lieutenant James Lawrence of the Enterprise, 
and a strong party of officers and men from the other ships, 
he went boldly in, in open day. As the boats pulled up within 
reach of musketry, the enemy opened a heavy fire, which 
there was very little opportunity of returning. Notwithstand- 
ing the great superiority of the Turks in numbers, the party 
landed, set fire to the feluccas, and regaining their boats open- 
ed to the right and left, to allow the shot of the ships to com- 
plete the work. The enemy now appeared desperately bent 
on preserving their vessels, and, regardless of the fire of the 
ships, they rushed on board the feluccas, succeeded in extin- 
guishing the flames, and, in the end, preserved them. 

This attack was made in the most gallant manner, and re- 
flected high credit on all engaged. The parties were so near 
each other, that the Turks actually threw stones at the Ame- 
ricans, and their fire was sharp, heavy, and close. The loss 
of the enemy could never be ascertained, but a good many 
were seen to fall. Of the Americans, 12 or 15 were killed 
and wounded ; and among the latter, was Mr. Porter, who re- 
ceived a slight wound in the right, and a musket-ball through 
the left thigh, while advancing to the attack, though he con- 
tinued to command to the last. Mr. Lawrence was particu- 
larly distinguished, as was Mr. John Downes, one of the mid- 
shipmen of the New York. 

Commodore Morris determined to follow up this attack on 
the wheat vessels, by making another on the gun-boats of the 
enemy. 

These gun-boats were stationed well out, near the rocks and 
the mole, in a manner to admit of their giving and receiving 
a fire ; and on the afternoon of the 28th of May, the prepar- 
ations having been previously made, a signal was shown from 
the New York, for the John Adams to bear down upon the 
enemy and commence an attack. Captain Rodgers obeyed the 
order with promptitude, taking a position within reach of grape ; 
but owing to the lightness of the wind, the two other ships 
were unable to second him, as was intended. In consequence 
of these unforeseen circumstances, the attack proved a failure, 
in one sense, though the boats soon withdrew behind the rocks, 
14* 



162 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

and night brought the affair to an end. It is believed that 
neither party suffered much on this occasion. 

The next day Commodore Morris made an attempt to ne- 
gotiate a peace, through the agency of M. Nissen, the Danish 
consul, a gentleman who, on all occasions, appears to have 
been the friend of the unfortunate, and active in doing good. 
To this proposal the Bey listened, and one of his ministers was 
empowered to meet the American commander on the subject. 
Having received proper pledges for his safe return, Commo- 
dore Morris landed in person, and each party presented its 
outlines of a treaty. The result was an abrupt ending of the 
negotiation. 

This occurred on the 8th of June; and on the 10th, the 
New York and Enterprise left the station for Malta. At the 
latter place, Commodore Morris received intelligence concern- 
ing the movements of the Algerine and Tunisian corsairs, that 
induced him to despatch the Enterprise, with orders to Captain 
Rodgers to raise the blockade of Tripoli, and to join him, as 
soon as circumstances would permit, at Malta. 

After the departure of the flag-ship, the John Adams 28, 
Captain Rodgers, and the Adams 28, Captain Campbell, com- 
posed the force left before the enemy's port. The speedy re- 
turn of the Enterprise 12, which was then commanded by 
Lieutenant Commandant Hull, who had succeeded Lieutenant 
Commandant Sterrett, added that light vessel to the squadron. 
Some movements in the harbour, on the evening of the 21st 
of June, induced Captain Rodgers, the senior officer present, 
to suspect that it was intended to get a cruiser to sea that night, 
or to cover the return of one to port. With a view to defeat 
either of these plans, the Adams was sent to the westward, the 
Enterprise to the eastward, while the John Adams remained in 
the offing. 

On the following morning, about 7 o'clock, the Enterprise was 
seen to the southward and eastward with a signal for an enemy 
flying. At that moment the John Adams was a few leagues 
out at sea, and it was 8 o'clock before the two vessels could 
speak each other. Captain Rodgers now found that a large 
ship belonging to the Bashaw, had run into a deep narrow bay, 
about seven leagues to the eastward of Tripoli, where she had 
taken a very favourable position for defence, and anchored 
with springs on her cable. At the same time it was ascertained 
that nine gun-boats were sweeping along the shore, to aid in 
defending her, while, as usual, a large body of cavalry was 



1803.] NAVAL HISTORY. 163 

hovering about the coast to resist any attack by means of boats. 
The ship was known to be the largest of the Bey's remaining 
corsairs, mounting 22 guns ; and she was very full of men. 

Captain Rodgers owed the opportunity that now offered to 
attack his enemy, to the steadiness and gallantry of Lieutenant 
Commandant Hull, who, on making his adversary at daylight, 
had cut him off from the town, with a spirit that did infinite 
credit to that officer. The Tripolitan was treble the force of 
the Enterprise, and had he chosen to engage the schooner, Mr. 
Hull would, probably, have been obliged to sacrifice his little 
vessel, in order to prevent his enemy from getting into port. 

The dispositions of Captain Rodgers were soon made. He 
stood in, with the Enterprise in company, until the John Ad- 
ams was within point-blank shot of the enemy, when she open- 
ed her fire. A smart cannonade was maintained on both sides, 
for forty-five minutes, when the people of the corsair aban- 
doned their guns, with so much precipitation, that great num- 
bers leaped overboard, and swam to the shore. The John Ad- 
ams was now in quarter-less-five, by the lead, and she wore 
with her head off shore. At the same time, the Enterprise 
was ordered to occupy the attention of the enemy on the beach, 
while boats could be got out to take possession of the aban- 
doned ship. But a boat returning to the corsair, the John Ad- 
ams tacked and renewed her fire. In a few minutes the co- 
lours of the corsair were hauled down, and all her guns were 
discharged ; those which were pointed towards the Americans, 
and those which were pointed towards the land. At the next 
moment she blew up. 

The explosion was very heavy, and it tore the hull of the 
Tripolitan entirely to pieces. The two after-masts were forced 
into the air to twice their usual height, with all the yards, rig- 
ging, and hamper attached. The cause of this explosion is 
unknown, though it might have been thought intentional, were 
it not for the fact that the people of the boat that had returned 
to her, were blown up in the ship, none having left her after 
their arrival. As the shot of the John Adams was seen to 
hull the enemy repeatedly, the corsair is also supposed to have 
sustained a severe loss before her people first abandoned her. 

The John Adams and Enterprise attempted to cut off the 
division of gun-boats, but found the water shoal too far to sea- 
ward of them to render the fire of their guns effective. Know- 
ing the whole coast intimately, the latter were enabled to es- 
cape. 



164 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

The ships before Tripoli, in obedience to the orders of Com- 
modore Morris, now sailed for Malta to join this officer, when 
the whole squadron proceeded to different ports in Italy, to- 
gether. From Leghorn, the John Adams was sent down to 
the straits with a convoy ; the Adams to Tunis and Gibraltar, 
and the Enterprise back to Malta, in quest of despatches. 
Soon after, the New York herself went below, touching at Mal- 
aga, where Commodore Morris found letters of recall. The 
command was left temporarily with Captain Rodgers, who 
hoisted a broad pennant in the New York, while Commodore 
Morris took charge of the Adams, to proceed to America. 
Captain Campbell, late of the Adams, was transferred to the 
John Adams. 

Commodore Morris reached home on the 21st of November, 
1803; and the government, which professed great dissatisfac- 
tion at the manner in which he had employed the force en- 
trusted to his discretion, demanded the usual explanations. 
These explanations not proving satisfactory, a Court of Inqui- 
ry was convened, by order of the department, dated March 
10, 1804, and the result was an opinion that this officer had 
not exercised due diligence and activity in annoying the ene- 
my, on various occasions, between the 8th of January, 1803, 
and the period of the expiration of his command. In conse- 
quence of the finding of the Court of Inquiry, the president 
dismissed Commodore Morris from the navy. This step has 
generally been considered high-handed and unjust. 

The death of Commodore Barry, the resignations of Com- 
modore Dale and Commodore Truxtun, with the dismissals of 
Commodore Morris and Captain M'Niell, reduced the list of 
captains to nine, the number named in the reduction law ; for 
that act does not appear to have been rigidly regarded from 
the moment of its passage. After the death of Commodore 
Barry, Commodore S. Nicholson became the senior officer of 
the service, making the second member of the same family 
who had filled that honourable station. 



1803.] NAVAL HISTORY. 165 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

The government soon became aware of the necessity of 
possessing some light cruisers, which, to a marine, are what 
the eyes and nerves are to man. Without vessels of this 
character, a commander x could never conduct a vigorous block- 
ade, like that required before Tripoli, in particular ; and a law 
passed February, 1803, authorising the construction of two 
brigs and two schooners. In the course of the spring of that 
year, these vessels were built, and the navy received an addi- 
tion to its list, of the Argus 16, Siren 16, Nautilus 12, and 
Vixen 12. The two former were beautiful and very efficient 
brigs, mounting 16 twenty-four pound carronades, and 2 long 
twelves ; and the two latter were schooners, carrying 1 2 
eighteen-pound carronades, and 2 light long guns, each. 
They were all finely modelled and serviceable vessels of their 
size, and are now intimately associated with the early traditions 
of the navy. There was a singular conformity in their fates, 
also, the whole four, in the end, falling into the hands of their 
enemies. 

When Commodore Morris was recalled, the necessity of 
sending out a new squadron was foreseen, the time of the 
crews belonging to the ships left under the orders of Commo- 
dore Rodgers being so nearly expired. Indeed the latter 
officer, when he hoisted his broad pennant, was notified that a 
successor must soon arrive. The new squadron was so 
differently organised from the two which had preceded it, as 
to leave little doubt that the administration had discovered the 
error which had been made in sending so many light frigates 
on this service ; vessels that were nearly useless in a bombard- 
ment, while they could not command the shores, and that had 
no other quality particularly suited to the warfare in which 
they were engaged, than a fitness to convoy. Even for the 
latter employment, the same force distributed in twice the 
number of vessels, would have been much more efficient and 
safe. 

The ships now selected to carry on the war against Tripoli, 
were of an entirely different description. They consisted of 
the Constitution 44, Philadelphia 38, Argus 16, Siren 16, 



166 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

Nautilus 12, Vixen 12, and Enterprise 12. The latter was 
already on the station, and it was intended to keep her there, 
by sending out men to supply the places of those who declined 
to enter anew. As usual, these vessels sailed as they were 
ready; the Nautilus 12, Lieutenant Commandant Somers, 
being the first that got to sea. This schooner reached Gibral- 
tar on the 27th of July, 1803. She was soon followed by the 
Philadelphia 38, Captain Bainbridge, which arrived at the 
same place, August 24th. The Constitution 44, bearing the 
broad pennant of Commodore Preble, who had been chosen to 
command the squadron, arrived September 12th; the Vixen 
12, Lieutenant Commandant Smith, September 14th; the 
Siren 16, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, October 1st; and 
the Argus 16, Lieutenant Commandant Decatur, November 1st. 
When the last fell in with the Enterprise, Mr. Decatur took 
command of that schooner, giving up the brig, by arrange- 
ment, to Mr. Hull, who was his senior officer. 

The Philadelphia barely touched at Gibraltar, but hearing that 
two Tripolitans were cruising off Cape de Gatt, Captain Bain- 
bridge proceeded, without delay, in quest of them. On the 
night of the 26th of August, blowing fresh, two sails were made 
from the Philadelphia, under Cape de Gatt ; the largest of which, 
a ship, was carrying nothing but a fore-course. On running 
alongside this vessel, and hailing, with a good deal of difficulty, 
Captain Bainbridge learned that the stranger was a Barbary 
cruiser. Further examination showed that this vessel be- 
longed to the Emperor of Morocco, and that she was the 
Meshboha 22, commanded by Ibrahim Lubarez, and had a 
crew of one hundred and twenty men. 

The Moors were made to believe that the Philadelphia was 
an English frigate, and they admitted that the brig in company 
was an American. The suspicions of Captain Bainbridge 
were now awakened, for he could not well account for the brig's 
being under so little sail, and he sent his first lieutenant on 
board the Moor, to ascertain if there were any prisoners in his 
ship. When the boat reached the Meshboha, the Moors re- 
fused to let the officer come over the side. Captain Bainbridge 
now directed an armed force to go into the boat, when the offi- 
cer succeeded in executing his orders. 

Below deck, were found the master and crew of the brig in 
company, which was ascertained to be the Celia of Boston, a 
prize to the Meshboha. The brig had been captured near Ma- 
laga, nine days before ; and there was no doubt that the Moors 



1803.] NAVAL HISTORY. 167 

were waiting for other vessels, Cape de Gatt being a headland 
commonly made by every thing that keeps the north shore of 
the Mediterranean aboard. 

Captain Bainbridge, on receiving this intelligence, did not 
hesitate about taking possession of the Meshboha. Her people 
could not all be removed until near daylight ; and during the 
time that was occupied in transferring them to the frigate, the 
brig had disappeared. On the afternoon of the 27th, however, 
she was seen doubling the cape, coming from the eastward, 
and hugging the land, while she steered in the direction of Al- 
meria, probably with the hope of getting to the westward of 
the ships, in order to run to Tangiers. Owing to light winds, 
it was midnight before she could be re-taken. 

It was now all-important to discover on what authority this 
capture had been made. The Moorish commander, at first, 
stated that he had taken the Celia, in anticipation of a war ; a 
serious misunderstanding existing between the Emperor and 
the American consul, when he left port. This story seemed 
so improbable that it was not believed, and Captain Bainbridge 
could only get at the truth by threatening to execute his pri- 
soner as a pirate, unless he showed his commission. This 
menace prevailed, and Ibrahim Lubarez presented an order 
from the Governor of Tangiers, to capture all Americans that 
he might fall in with. 

The Philadelphia returned to Gibraltar with her prizes, and 
leaving the latter, she went off Cape St. Vincent, in quest of a 
Moorish frigate that was said to be cruising there. Not suc- 
ceeding in finding the Moor, Captain Bainbridge ran through 
the straits again, and went aloft. While at Gibraltar, Mr. 
David Porter joined him as first lieutenant. 

Shortly after the Philadelphia had gone to her station off 
Tripoli, the New York 36, Commodore Rodgers, and the John 
Adams 28, Captain Campbell, reached Gibraltar, in the ex- 
pectation of meeting the new flag-ship. In a day or two the 
Constitution came in, as did the Nautilus, which had been giv- 
ing convoy up the Mediterranean. As soon as Commodore 
Preble was apprised of the facts connected with the capture 
of the Meshboha, he saw the necessity of disposing of the 
question with Morocco, before he left the entrance of the Me- 
diterranean again open, by going off Tripoli. Commodore 
Rodgers was the senior officer, and his authority in those seas 
had properly ceased, but, in the handsomest manner, he con- 
sented to accompany Commodore Preble to Tangiers, leaving 



168 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

the latter his power to act, as negotiator and commander-in- 
chief. Accordingly the Constitution 44, New York 36, John 
Adams 28, and Nautilus 12, went into the Bay of Tangiers, 
October the 6th, 1803. Commodore Preble, on this occasion, 
discovered that promptitude, spirit and discretion, which were 
afterwards so conspicuous in his character ; and after a short 
negotiation', the relations of the two countries were placed on 
their former amicable footing. The commodore had an inter- 
view with the Emperor, which terminated in the happiest re- 
sults. On the part of Morocco, the act of the Governor of 
Tangiers was disavowed ; an American vessel that had been 
detained at Mogadore, was released ; and the Emperor affixed 
his seal anew to the treaty of 1786. The commodore then 
gave up the Meshboha, and it was also agreed to return the 
Meshouda, the ship taken by the John Adams. Congress, in 
the end, however, appropriated an equivalent to the captors of 
these two vessels, in lieu of prize-money. 

As soon as the difficulties with Morocco were settled, Com- 
modore Rodgers sailed for America ; and Commodore Preble 
devoted himself with energy and prudence in making his pre- 
parations to bring Tripoli to terms. The latter had an ardu- 
ous task before him ; and its difficulties were increased by the 
circumstance that he was personally known to scarcely an 
officer under his command. During the war with France, the 
ships had been principally officered from the states in which 
they had been built ; and Captain Preble, a citizen of New 
Hampshire, had hitherto commanded vessels under these cir- 
cumstances. He had sailed for the East Indies in 1800, in 
the Essex 32, and had been much removed from the i*est of 
the navy, in the course of his service. By one of those acci- 
dents that so often influence the affairs of life, all the com- 
manders placed under the orders of Commodore Preble, with 
the exception of Mr. Hull, came from the middle or the south- 
ern states ; and it is believed that most of them had never even 
seen their present commander, until they went in person to re- 
port themselves and their vessels. This was not only true of 
the commanders, but a large portion of the subordinate offi- 
cers, also, were in the same situation ; even most of those in 
the Constitution herself, having been personally strangers to 
the commander of the squadron. The period was now ap- 
proaching when the force about to be employed before Tripoli 
was to assemble, and a service was in perspective that pro- 
mised to let the whole squadron into the secret of its com- 



1803.J NAVAL HISTORY. 169 

mander's true character. Previously to relating the events 
that then occurred, however, it will be necessary to return to 
the movements of the Philadelphia 38, Captain Bainbridge. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

It has been seen that the Philadelphia captured the Mesh- 
boha, on the night of the 26th of August, 1803. The return 
to Gibraltar, the run off Cape Vincent, and the passage up the 
Mediterranean, brought it late in the season, before that ship 
could reach her station. Here the Vixen 12, Lieutenant Com- 
mandant Smith, which schooner had arrived at Gibraltar about 
the middle of September, appeared also, and the blockade was 
resumed by these two vessels, the Enterprise having gone 
below. Unfortunately, soon after his arrival, Captain Bain- 
bridge sent the schooner in quest of a Tripolitan cruiser, that 
he learned from the master of a neutral had got to sea a short 
time previously. This left the frigate alone, to perform a very 
delicate service, the blockading vessels being constantly com- 
pelled to chase in-shore. 

Towards the last of the month of October, the wind, which 
had been strong from the westward for some time previously, 
drove the Philadelphia a considerable distance to the eastward 
of the town, and on Monday, October the 31st, as she was 
running down to her station again, with a fair breeze, about 
nine in the morning, a vessel was seen in-shore, and to wind- 
ward, standing for Tripoli. Sail was made to cut her off. 
Believing himself to be within long gun-shot a little before 
eleven, and seeing no other chance of overtaking the stranger 
in the short distance that remained, Captain Bainbridge opened 
a fire, in the hope of cutting something away. For near an 
hour longer, the chase and the fire were continued ; the lead, 
which was constantly kept going, giving from seven to ten 
fathoms, and the ship hauling up and keeping away, as the 
water shoaled or deepened. At half-past eleven, Tripoli then 
being in plain sight, distant a little more than a league, satisfied 
that he could neither overtake the chase, nor force her ashore, 
Captain Bainbridge ordered the helm a-port, to haul directly 
15 



170 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

oft' the land into deep water. The next cast of the lead, when 
this order was executed, gave but eight fathoms, and this was 
immediately followed by casts that gave seven, and six and a 
half. At this moment, the wind was nearly abeam, and the 
ship had eight knots way on her. When the cry of " half- 
six" was heard, the helm was put hard down, and the yards 
were ordered to be braced sharp up. While the ship was 
coming up fast to the wind, and before she had lost any of her 
way, she struck a reef forwards, and shot up on it, until she 
lifted between five and six feet. 

This was an appalling accident to occur on the coast of such 
an enemy, at that season of the year, and with no other cruiser 
near ! It was first attempted to force the vessel ahead, under 
the impression that the best water was to sea-ward ; but on 
sounding around the ship, it was found that she had run up 
with such force, as to lie nearly cradled on the rocks ; there 
being only 14 feet of water under the fore-chains, while the 
ship drew, before striking, 18^ feet forward. Astern there 
were not 18 feet of water, instead of 20£, which the frigate 
needed. Such an accident could only have occurred by the 
vessel's hitting the reef at a spot where it sloped gradually, and 
where, most probably the constant washing of the element had 
rendered the surface smooth ; and by her going up, on the top 
of one of those long, heavy, but nearly imperceptible swells, 
that are always agitating the bosom of the ocean. 

The vessel of which the Philadelphia had been in chase was 
a large xebeck, and her commander, acquainted with the coast, 
stood on, inside of the reef, doubled the edge of the shoal, and 
reached Tripoli in safety. The firing, however, had brought 
out nine gun-boats, which now appeared, turning to windward. 
Not a moment was to be lost, as it would shortly be in the 
power of these vessels to assail the frigate almost with impu- 
nity. Finding, on further examination, deep water in shore, the 
yards were next braced aback, and the guns were run aft, in 
the equally vain hope of forcing the ship astern, or to make 
her slide off the sloping rocks on which she had run so hard. 
It was some time before this project was abandoned, as it was 
the most practicable means of getting afloat. 

On a consultation with his officers, Captain Bainbridge next 
gave orders to throw overboard the guns, reserving a few aft 
for defence ; the anchors, with the exception of the larboard 
bower, were cut from the bows. Before this could be effected 
the enemy came within gun-shot, and opened his fire. For- 



1803] NAVAL HISTORY. 171 

tunately, the Tripolitana were ignorant of the desperate con- 
dition of the Philadelphia, and were kept at a respectful dis- 
tance by the few guns that remained ; else they might have 
destroyed most of the crew, it being certain that the colours 
would not be struck so long as there was any hope of getting 
the ship afloat. The cannonade, which was distant and ineffi- 
cient, and the business of lightening the frigate, went on at the 
same time, and occupied several hours. 

The enemy finally became so bold, that they crossed the 
stern of the frigate, where alone they were at all exposed to 
her fire, and took a position on her starboard, or weather quar- 
ter. Here it was impossible to touch them, the ship having 
heeled to port, in a way to render it impracticable to bring a 
single gun to bear, or, indeed, to use one at all, on that side. 

Captain Bainbridge now called another council of his offi- 
cers, and it was determined to make a last effort to get the 
vessel off. The water-casks, in the hold, were started, and 
the water was pumped out. All the heavy articles that could 
be got at, were thrown overboard, and finally the fore-mast 
was cut away, bringing down with it the main-top-gallant-mast. 
Notwithstanding all this, the vessel remained as immovable as 
the rocks on which she lay. 

The gun-boats were growing bolder every minute, others 
were approaching, and night was at hand. Captain Bain- 
bridge, after consulting again with his officers, felt it to be an 
imperious duty to haul down his flag, to save the lives of the 
people. Before this was done, however, the magazine was 
drowned, holes were bored in the ship's bottom, the pumps 
were choked, and every thing was performed that it was 
thought would make the final loss of the vessel sure. About 
five o'clock the colours were lowered. 

It is a curious circumstance that this was the second in- 
stance in which an American vessel of war had been compel- 
led to haul down her flag, since the formation of the new ma- 
rine, and that in each case the same officer commanded. Af- 
ter the accounts given in this work, it is unnecessary to add 
that on both occasions an imperious necessity produced this 
singular coincidence. 

The ship had no sooner struck than the gun-boats ran down 
alongside of her, and took possession. The barbarians rushed 
into the vessel, and began to plunder their captives. Not only 
were the clothes which the Americans had collected in their 
bags and in bundles, taken from them, but many officers and 



172 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

men were stripped half-naked. They were hurried into boats, 
and sent to Tripoli, and even on the passage the business of 
plundering went on. The officers were respected little more 
than the common men, and, while in the boat, Captain Bain- 
bridge himself was robbed of his epaulets, gloves, watch, and 
money. His cravat was even torn from his neck. He wore 
a miniature of his wife, and of this the Tripolitans endeavour- 
ed to deprive him also, but, a youthful and attached husband, he 
resisted so seriously that the attempt was relinquished. 

It was near 10 o'clock at night, when the boats reached the 
town. The prisoners were landed in a body, near the ba- 
shaw's palace, and they were conducted to his presence. The 
prince received his captives in an audience hall, seated in a 
chair of state, and surrounded by his ministers. Here Captain 
Bainbridge was formally presented to him, as his prisoner, 
when the bashaw himself directed all the officers to be seated. 
The minister of foreign affairs, Mohammed D'Ghies, spoke 
French, and through him the bashaw held a conversation of 
some length with Captain Bainbridge. The latter was asked 
many questions concerning the Philadelphia, the force of the 
Americans in the Mediterranean, and he was civilly consoled 
for his captivity, by being reminded that it was merely the for- 
tune of war. 

When the conversation had ended, the officers were con- 
ducted to another apartment, where a supper had been provided, 
and as soon as this meal had been taken by those who had a 
desire to eat, they were led back to the audience hall, and paid 
their parting compliments to the bashaw. Here the captives 
were informed that they were put under the special charge of 
Sidi Mohammed D'Ghies, who conducted them to the house 
that had lately been the American consulate. The building 
was spacious and commodious, but almost destitute of furni- 
ture. It was one o'clock in the morning, but at that late hour 
even, appeared Mr. Nissen, the Danish consul, bringing with 
him the consolations of sympathy and hope. This benevolent 
man was introduced to Captain Bainbridge, by Mohammed 
D'Ghies, as his personal friend, and as one on whose honour, 
humanity and good faith, full reliance might be placed. Mo- 
hammed D'Ghies, himself, was known by reputation to Cap- 
tain Bainbridge, and he had shown delicacy and feeling in the 
exercise of his trust. His recommendation, which was point- 
edly significant, coupled with the manner of Mr. Nissen, excited 
a confidence that in the end proved to be most worthily be- 



1803.] NAVAL HISTORY. '173 

stowed. Every thing that could be devised at that unseason- 
able hour, was done by Mr. Nissen. This was but the com- 
mencement of a series of indefatigable and unwearying kind- 
nesses, that endured to the last moment of the captivity of the 
Americans. 

The misfortune that befel the Philadelphia, made a material 
difference in the state of the war. Until this moment, the 
bashaw had received but little to compensate him for the incon- 
venience to which he was put by the blockade, and for the loss 
of his different cruisers. His corsairs had captured but very 
few merchant vessels, and they ran the greatest risks, when- 
ever they appeared out of their own ports. As yet, it is true, 
nothing had been attempted against his town, but he knew it 
was at any time liable to a bombardment. It was thought, 
therefore, that he was not indisposed to peace, when accident 
threw the crew of the Philadelphia so unexpectedly into his 
power. 

The bashaw, however, had now a hold upon his enemy, that, 
agreeably to the usages of Barbary, enabled him to take much 
higher ground in proposing his terms. In his previous nego- 
tiations, he had asked a large sum as the price of the few cap- 
tives he then held, but the demand had been rejected as unrea- 
sonable and exorbitant. On board the Philadelphia were three 
hundred and fifteen souls, and among them were no less than 
twenty-two quarter-deck officers,* gentlemen in whose fortunes 
the bashaw well knew there would be a lively interest felt, to 
say nothing of the concern that a government like that of 
America was expected to manifest for the fate of its seamen. 
Under these circumstances, therefore, the divan of Tripoli felt 
strongly encouraged to continue the war, in the hope of receiv- 
ing a high ransom for the prisoners, and in the expectation of 
holding a check on the measures of its enemy, by its means of 
retaliation. 

* William Bainbridge, captain ; David Porter, first lieutenant ; Jacob 
Jones, second do. ; Theodore Hunt, third do. ; Benjamin Smith, fourth do. ; 
William Osborn, lieutenant of marines ; John Ridgely, surgeon ; J. Cow- 
dery, do. mate ; Nicholas Harwood, do. do. ; Keith Spence, purser ; and 
Bernard Henry, James Gibbon, Benjamin Franklin Reed, James Ren- 
shaw, Wallaco Wormley, Robert Gamble, James Biddle, Richard R. 
Jones, Daniel T. Patterson, Simon Smith, and William Cutbush, mid- 
shipmen ; William Anderson, captain's clerk. Of these gentlemen, Messrs. 
J. Jones, Renshaw, Biddle, and Patterson, are still in service, and have all 
worn broad pennants. Dr. Cowdery is the oldest surgeon now in the 
navy. 

15* 



174 NAVAL HISTORY. [1803. 

The Philadelphia ran on the reef on the 31st of October, and 
her people were landed during the night of the same day. 
The Tripolitans set about their arrangements to get the ship 
off, next morning, and as they were near their own port, had 
so many gun-boats and galleys at their disposal, and were 
unmolested by any cruiser, it was announced to the bashaw 
that there were hopes of saving the frigate. In the course of 
the 2d of November, it came on to blow fresh from the north- 
west, and the wind forcing the water up on the African coast, 
while it bore on the larboard quarter of the ship, her stern was 
driven round, and she floated, in part, though she continued to 
thump as the seas left her. Anchors were now carried out, 
all the disposable force of the town was applied, and on the 5th, 
the Philadelphia was got into deep water. The same day, she 
was brought within two miles of the city, where she was com- 
pelled to anchor, on account of the state of the weather. Here 
she was kept afloat by means of pumping, while men were em- 
ployed in stopping the leaks. The business of scuttling ap- 
pears to have been but imperfectly performed, a few holes hav- 
ing been merely bored in the bottom of the ship, instead of 
cutting through the planks, as had been ordered. The weather 
continuing remarkably pleasant, the Turks finally succeeded 
in not only getting the frigate into port, but in weighing all her 
guns and anchors which lay in shallow water on the reef, as 
well as in getting up nearly every thing else that had been 
thrown overboard. The ship was partially repaired, her guns 
were remounted, and she was moored off" the town, about a 
quarter of a mile from the bashaw's castle. 

Commodore Preble, on his return from Tangiers to Gibral- 
tar, on the 15th of October, went round to Cadiz ; soon after, 
he re-appeared at the former place, made a formal announce- 
ment of the blockade of Tripoli, on the 12th of November, on 
which day the ship he believed to be in the active execution 
of that duty, was in the possession of the enemy, and on the 
13th, he sailed for Algiers. After landing a consul at the lat- 
ter place, he proceeded to Malta, off' which port he arrived on 
the 27th of November. Here he was met by letters from Cap- 
tain Bainbridge, and he obtained a confirmation of the loss of 
the Philadelphia, a rumour of which event had reached him 
lower down the coast. The Constitution sailed immediately 
for Syracuse, and got in next day. 

On the 17th of December, 1803, Commodore Preble, after 
making his preparations and disposing of his force in different 



1803.] NAVAL HISTORY. 175 

ways, sailed for Tripoli, with the Enterprise in company, off 
which place he now appeared for the first time. The 23d of 
the month, the Enterprise 12, Lieutenant Commandant Deca- 
tur, fell in with and captured a ketch, with seventy souls on 
board. This ketch had been a French gun-vessel in Egypt, 
that had been taken by the English and had passed into the 
hands of the Tripolitans. She was now bound to Constanti- 
nople, with a present of female slaves for the Porte. A few 
days after this prize was taken, it came on to blow heavily 
from the northeast, and finding the frigate in danger of being 
lost on the coast, at that tempestuous season, Commodore Pre- 
ble returned to Syracuse ; not, however, until he had recon- 
noitred his enemy, and formed his plan of operations for the 
future. Means had been found to communicate with Captain 
Bainbridge, also ; and several letters were received from that 
officer, pointing out different methods of annoying the enemy. 

In a letter of the date of the 5th of December, 1803, Cap- 
tain Bainbridge suggested the possibility of destroying the 
Philadelphia, which ship was slowly fitting for sea, there be- 
ing little doubt of her being sent out as a cruiser, as soon as 
the mild season should return. Commodore Preble listened 
to the suggestion, and being much in the society of the com- 
mander of the vessel that was most in company with the Con- 
stitution, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, he mentioned the project 
to that spirited officer. The expedition was just suited to the 
ardour and temperament of Mr. Decatur, and the possession 
of the prize at once afforded the means of carrying it into effect. 
The ketch was accordingly appraised, named the Intrepid, and 
taken into the service, as a tender. About this time, Lieute- 
nant Commandant Stewart, of the Siren, the officer who was 
then second in command in the Mediterranean, and who had 
just arrived from below, offered to cut out the Philadelphia 
with his own brig ; but Commodore Preble was pledged to Mr. 
Decatur, who, at first, had proposed to run in with the Enterprise 
and carry the ship. The more experienced Preble rejected the 
propositions of both these ardent young men, substituting a 
plan of his own. 

Although Commodore Preble declined the proposal of Mr. 
Decatur to carry in the Enterprise, the projected service was 
assigned to the commander and crew of that schooner. It 
being necessary, however, to leave some of her own officers 
and people in her, a selection of a few gentlemen to join 
in the expedition, was made from the flag-ship, and orders to 



176 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

that effect were issued accordingly. These orders were dated 
February the 3d, 1804, and they directed the different gentle- 
men named to report themselves to Lieutenant Commandant 
Decatur, of the Enterprise. As it was intended that the crew 
of the schooner should furnish the entire crew of the ketch, it 
was not thought proper to add any men to this draft. In short, 
the duty was strictly assigned to the Enterprise, so far as her 
complement could furnish the officers required. On the after- 
noon of the 3d, according to the orders they had just received, 
Messrs. Izard, Morris, Laws, Davis, and Rowe, midshipmen 
of the Constitution, went on board the schooner, and reported 
themselves for duty to her commander. All hands were now 
called in the Enterprise, when Lieutenant Commandant Decatur 
acquainted his people with the destination of the ketch, and 
asked for volunteers. Every man and boy in the schooner 
presented himself, as ready, and willing to go. Sixty-two of 
the most active men were selected, and the remainder, with a 
few officers, were left to take care of the vessel. As the orders 
to destroy the frigate, and not to attempt to bring her out, were 
peremptory, the combustibles, which had been prepared for 
this purpose, were immediately sent on board the Intrepid, her 
crew followed, and that evening the ketch sailed, under the 
convoy of the Siren 16, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, who 
was properly the senior officer of the expedition, though, owing 
to the peculiar nature of the service, Mr. Decatur was permitted 
.to conduct the more active part of the duty, at his own discretion. 

The party in the ketch consisted of Lieutenant Commandant 
Decatur ; Lieutenants Lawrence, Bainbridge, and Thorn ; Mr. 
Thomas M'Donough,* midshipman, and Dr. Heerman, sur- 
geon ; all of the Enterprise ; — Messrs. Izard, Morris, Laws, 
Davis, and Rowe, midshipmen of the Constitution ; and Sal- 
vador Catalano the pilot, with sixty-two petty officers and com- 
mon men, making a total of seventy-four souls. 

It is scarcely necessary to say that the accommodations 
■were none of the best, with so many persons cooped up in a 
vessel of between forty and fifty tons ; and to make the matter 
worse, it was soon found that the salted meat put on board 
was spoiled, and that there was little besides bread and water left 
to subsist on. The weather, however, was pleasant, and the 

* Mr. Thomas M'Donough, afterwards so distinguished, had belonged 
to the Philadelphia, but escaped captivity by being left at Gibraltar in the 
prize Meshboha. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 177 

wind favourable, and the two vessels got in sight of Tripoli on 
the afternoon of the 9th. To prevent suspicions, the Intrepid 
now went ahead of the Siren ; and a little after dark, she had 
stretched in quite near to the coast, with a breeze at southwest, 
anchoring about a mile to the windward of the town. Shortly 
after, the Siren, disguised, brought-to a little to seaward of her. 
The night came on dark and threatening, but it was in some 
respects so favourable to the enterprise, that Mr. Decatur was 
reluctant to let it pass without making the attempt. The pilot, 
however, pronounced it extremely hazardous to venture in 
among the rocks at that moment, as he thought the sea must 
be breaking across the entrance, by which it was proposed to 
pass. Under the circumstances, Mr. Decatur, who displayed 
as much conduct and prudence as daring gallantry throughout 
this whole affair, sent Mr. Morris and the pilot, in a boat with 
muffled oars, to reconnoitre. This young officer pulled close 
up to the western passage, and ascertained that the sea was so 
high that it was, in fact, breaking entirely across the entrance ; 
when he returned, and reported that it would be hazardous to 
go in, and that to come out would be impossible. 

The report was scarcely needed, for, by this time, the wind 
had risen so high, and so much sea had got up, that in hoisting 
in the boat, it was stove, and when the anchor was weighed, for 
it was necessary to get off the land as soon as possible, it was 
found to be broken. The Siren had anchored a little without 
the ketch, and had hoisted out and armed her boats, which 
were to cover the retreat, but she, too, was compelled to get 
under way, by the increasing violence of the wind. Several 
hours were employed in a vain attempt to get her anchor, the 
brig rolling gunwales-to, and a good many of her people, 
together with Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, were hurt by 
the capstan's running away with the bars. In the end, the 
weather came on so bad, and the danger of being seen as the 
day dawned was so much increased, that the anchor and cable 
were left, the latter having been cut without the hawse-hole. 

So sudden and violent was the gale, that there had been no 
communication between the two vessels, the Siren having no 
other intimation of the departure of the ketch, than by seeing 
her light as she stretched out to sea. Luckily, the wind was 
well to the westward, and both vessels got an offing before 
they were seen from Tripoli. Here they lay-to, with their 
heads off shore, certain of being far enough to leeward, to be 



178 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

out of sight in the morning. The wind began to haul to the 
northward, and the gale lasted six days, during which time 
great fears were entertained of the ketch's foundering at sea, 
or of her being, at least, driven on the coast, the change in the 
wind having brought the vessels on a lee shore. Before the 
wind abated, they were driven up into the Gulf of Sydra, where 
they were fairly embayed. 

On the 15th the .weather moderated, and the brig and ketch, 
which had kept in company, notwithstanding the gale, endea- 
voured to fetch in with the land, and in the course of the night 
they got so near, as to reconnoitre and ascertain their position. 
Finding themselves too far to the eastward to effect any thing 
that night, they hauled off again, in order to escape detection. 
The next day, about noon, calculating that they were abreast 
of the town, and the wind and weather being, in all respects, 
favourable, both vessels kept away, the ketch leading some 
distance, in order that the enemy might not suppose her a 
consort of the Siren's, although the latter was so much dis- 
guised, as to render it impossible to recognise her. The wind 
was fair, but light, and every thing looking favourable, Mr. 
Decatur now seriously made his dispositions for the attack. 
Apprehensive that they might have been seen, and that the 
enemy had possibly strengthened the party on board the 
frigate, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart sent a boat and eight 
men from the Siren, to the ketch, under the orders of Mr. An- 
derson, one of his midshipmen ; which reinforcement increased 
the number of the intended assailants to eighty-two, all told. 

The orders of Lieutenant Commandant Decatur were clear 
and simple. The spar-deck was first to be carried, then the 
gun-deck ; after which the following distribution of the party 
was made, in order to set fire to the ship. Mr. Decatur, with 
Messrs. Izard and Rowe, and fifteen men, was to keep posses- 
sion of the upper deck. Mr. Lawrence, with Messrs. Laws 
and M'Donough and ten men, was to repair to the berth-deck 
and forward store-rooms. Mr. Bainbridge, with Mr. Davis and 
ten men, was to go into the ward-room and steerage ; Mr. 
Morris, with eight men, was to go into the cockpit and after 
store-rooms ; Mr. Thorn, with the gunner and surgeon, and 
thirteen men, was to look after the ketch ; to Mr. Izard was 
assigned the command of the launch should she be needed ; and 
Mr. Anderson, with the Siren's cutter, was to secure all boats 
alongside of the ship, and to prevent the people from swim- 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 179 

ming ashore, with directions, however, to board as soon as the 
first duty was performed. 

Fire-arms were to be used only in the last extremity, and 
the first object of every one was to clear the upper-deck and 
gun-deck of the enemy. The watch-word was " Philadelphia." 
These arrangements were plain and judicious. 

As the ketch drew in with the land, the ship became visible. 
She lay not quite a mile within the entrance, riding to the 
wind, and abreast of the town. Her fore-mast, which had 
been cut away while she was on the reef, had not yet been 
replaced, her main and mizzen-top-masts were housed, and 
her lower yards were on the gunwales. Her lower standing 
rigging, however, was in its place, and, as was shortly after- 
wards ascertained, her guns were loaded and shotted. Just 
within her, lay two corsairs, with a few gun-boats, and a gal- 
ley or two. 

It was a mild evening for the season, and the sea and bay 
were smooth as in summer; as unlike as possible to the same 
place a few days previously, when the two vessels had been 
driven from the enterprise by a tempest. Perceiving that he 
was likely to get in too soon, when about five miles from the 
rocks, Mr. Decatur ordered buckets and other drags to be towed 
astern, in order to lessen the way of the ketch, without short- 
ening sail, as the latter expedient would have been seen from 
the port, and must have awakened suspicion. In the mean 
time the wind gradually fell, until it became so light as to leave 
the ketch but about two knots' way on her, when the drags 
were removed. 

About 10 o'clock the Intrepid reached the eastern entrance 
of the bay, or the passage between the rocks and the shoal. 
The wind was nearly east, and, as she steered directly for the 
frigate, it was well abaft the beam. There was a young moon, 
and as these bold adventurers were slowly advancing into the 
hostile port, all around them was tranquil and apparently with- 
out distrust. For near an hour they were stealing slowly 
along, the air gradually failing, until their motion became 
scarcely perceptible. 

Most of the officers and men of the ketch had been ordered 
to lie on the deck, where they were concealed by low bulwarks, 
or weather-boards, and by the different objects that belong to 
a vessel. As it is the practice of those seas, to carry many 
men even in the smallest craft, the appearance often or twelve 
would excite no alarm, and this number was visible. The 



180 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

commanding officer, himself, stood near the pilot, Mr. Catala- 
no,* who was to act as interpreter. The quarter-master at the 
helm, was ordered to stand directly for the 'frigate's bows, it 
being the intention to lay the ship aboard in that place, as the 
mode of attack which would least expose the assailants to her 
fire. 

The Intrepid was still at a considerable distance from the 
Philadelphia, when the latter hailed. The pilot answered that 
the ketch belonged to Malta, and was on a trading voyage ; 
that she had been nearly wrecked, and had lost her anchors 
in the late gale, and that her commander wished to ride by the 
frigate during the night. This conversation lasted some time, 
Mr. Decatur instructing the pilot to tell the frigate's people 
with what he was laden, in order to amuse them, and the In- 
trepid gradually drew nearer, until there was every prospect 
of her running foul of the Philadelphia, in a minute or two, 
and at the very spot contemplated. But the wind suddenly 
shifted, and took the ketch aback. The instant the southerly 
puff struck her, her head fell off, and she got a stern-board ; 
the ship, at the same moment, tending to the new current of 
air. The effect of this unexpected change was to bring the 
ketch directly under the frigate's broadside, at the distance of 
about forty yards, where she lay perfectly becalmed, or, if 
any thing, drifting slowly astern, exposed to nearly every one 
of the Philadelphia's larboard guns. 

Not the smallest suspicion appears to have been yet excited 
on board the frigate, though several of her people were look- 
ing over the rails, and notwithstanding the moonlight. So 
completely were the Turks deceived, that they lowered a boat, 
and sent it with a fast. Some of the ketch's men, in the mean 
time, had got into her boat, and had run a line to the frigate's 
fore-chains. As they returned, they met the frigate's boat, 
took the fast it brought, which came from the after part of the 
ship, and passed it into their own vessel. These fasts were 
put into the hands of the men, as they lay on the ketch's 
deck, and they began cautiously to breast the Intrepid along- 
side of the Philadelphia, without rising. As soon as the latter 
got near enough to the ship, the Turks discovered her anchors, 
and they sternly ordered the ketch to keep off, as she had de- 
ceived them ; preparing, at the same time, to cut the fasts. 
All this passed in a moment, when the cry of " Amerikanos" 



* Now a sailing-master in the navy. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 181 

was heard in the ship. The people of the Intrepid, by a strong 
pull, brought their vessel alongside of the frigate, where she 
was secured, quick as thought. Up to this moment, not a 
whisper had betrayed the presence of the men concealed. 
The instructions had been positive to keep quiet until com- 
manded to show themselves ; and no precipitation, even in that 
trying moment, deranged the plan. 

Lieutenant Commandant Decatur was standing ready for a 
spring, with Messrs. Laws and Morris quite near him. As 
soon as close enough, he jumped at the frigate's chain-plates, 
and while clinging to the ship himself, he gave the order to 
board. The two midshipmen were at his side, and all the offi- 
cers and men of the Intrepid arose and followed. The three 
gentlemen named were in the chains together, and Lieutenant 
Commandant Decatur and Mr. Morris sprang at the rail above 
them, while Mr. Laws dashed at a port. To the latter would 
have belonged the honour of having been first in this gallant 
assault, but wearing a boarding-belt, his pistols were caught 
between the gun and the side of the port. Mr. Decatur's foot 
slipped in springing, and Mr. Charles Morris first stood upon 
the quarter-deck of the Philadelphia. In an instant, Lieu- 
tenant Commandant Decatur and Mr. Laws were at his side, 
while heads and bodies appeared coming over the rail, and 
through the ports in all directions. 

The surprise appears to have been as perfect, as the assault 
was rapid and earnest. Most of the Turks on deck crowded 
forward, and all ran over to the starboard-side, as their ene- 
mies poured in on the larboard. A few were aft, but as soon 
as charged, they leaped into the sea. Indeed, the constant 
plunges into the water, gave the assailants the assurance that 
their enemies were fast lessening in numbers by flight. It 
took but a minute or two to clear the spar-deck, though there 
was more of a struggle below. Still, so admirably managed 
was the attack, and so complete the surprise, that the resist- 
ance was trifling. In less than ten minutes Mr. Decatur was 
on the quarter-deck again, in undisturbed possession of his 
prize. 

There can be no doubt that this gallant officer now felt bit- 
ter regrets that it was not in his power to bring away the ship 
he had so nobly recovered. Not only were his orders on this 
point peremptory, however, but the frigate had not a sail bent, 
nor a yard crossed, and she wanted her foremast. It was 
16 



182 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804 

next to impossible, therefore, to remove her, and the command 
was given to pass up the combustibles from the ketch. 

The duty of setting fire to the prize, appears to have been 
executed with as much promptitude and order, as every other 
part of the service. The officers distributed themselves, 
agreeably to the previous instructions, and the men soon ap- 
peared with the necessary means. Each party acted by itself, 
and as it got ready. So rapid were they all in their move- 
ments, that the men with combustibles had scarcely time to 
get as low as the cock-pit and after-store-rooms, before the 
fires were lighted over their heads. When the officer entrusted 
with the duty last mentioned had got through, he found the 
after-hatches filled with smoke, from the fire in the ward-room 
and steerage, and he was obliged to make his escape by the 
forward ladders. 

The Americans were in the ship from twenty to twenty-five 
minutes, and they were literally driven out of her by the 
flames. The vessel had got to be so dry in that low latitude, 
that she burnt like pine ; and the combustibles had been as 
judiciously prepared, as they were steadily used. The last 
party up, were the people who had been in the store-rooms, 
and when they reached the deck, they found most of their 
companions already in the Intrepid. Joining them, and ascer- 
taining that all was ready, the order was given to cast off. 
Notwithstanding the daring character of the enterprise in gene- 
ral, Mr. Decatur and his party now ran the greatest risk they 
had incurred that night. So fierce had the conflagration al- 
ready become, that the flames began to pour out of the ports, 
and the head-fast having been cast off, the ketch fell astern, 
with her jigger flapping against the quarter-gallery, and her 
boom foul. The fire showed itself in the window at this criti- 
cal moment ; and beneath, was all the ammunition of the 
party, covered with a tarpaulin. To increase the risk, the 
stern-fast was jammed. By using swords, however, for there 
was not time to look for an axe, the hawser was cut, and the 
Intrepid was extricated from the most imminent danger, by a 
vigorous shove. As she swung clear of the frigate, the flames 
reached the rigging, up which they went hissing, like a rocket, 
the tar having oozed from the ropes, which had been saturated 
with that inflammable matter. Matches could not have kindled 
with greater quickness. 

The sweeps were now manned. Up to this moment, every 
thing had been done earnestly, though without noise, but as 



1804] NAVAL HISTORY. 183 

soon as they felt that they had got command of their ketch 
again, and by two or three vigorous strokes had sent her away 
from the frigate, the people of the Intrepid ceased rowing, and 
as one man, they gave three cheers for victory. This appeared 
to arouse the Turks from their stupor ; for the cry had hardly 
ended, when the batteries, the two corsairs, and the galley, 
poured in their fire. The men laid hold of the sweeps again, 
of which the Intrepid had eight of a side, and favoured by a 
light air, they went rapidly down the harbour. 

The spectacle that followed, is described as having been 
both beautiful and sublime. The entire bay was illuminated 
by the conflagration, the roar of cannon was constant, and 
Tripoli was in a clamour. The appearance of the ship was, 
in the highest degree, magnificent ; and, to add to the effect, 
as her guns heated, they began to go off. Owing to the shift 
of wind, and the position into which she had tended, she, in 
some measure, returned the enemy's fire, as one of her broad- 
sides was discharged in the direction of the town, and the 
other towards Fort English. The most singular effect of this 
conflagration was on board the ship, where the flames having 
run up the rigging and masts, collected under the tops, and fell 
over, giving the whole the appearance of glowing columns and 
fiery capitals. 

Under ordinary circumstances, the situation of the ketch 
would still have been thought sufficiently perilous, but after the 
exploit they had just performed, her people, elated with suc- 
cess, regarded all that was now passing as a triumphal spec- 
tacle. The shot constantly cast the spray around them, or 
were whistling over their heads ; but the only sensation they 
produced, was by calling attention to the brilliant jets d'eau 
that they occasioned as they bounded along the water. But 
one struck the Intrepid, although she was within half a mile of 
many of the heaviest guns for some time, and that passed 
through her top-gallant-sail. 

With sixteen sweeps, and eighty men elated with success, 
Mr. Decatur was enabled to drive the little Intrepid ahead with 
a velocity that rendered towing useless. Near the harbour's 
mouth, he met the Siren's boats, sent to cover his retreat, but 
their services were scarcely necessary. As soon as the ketch 
was out of danger, he got into one, and pulled aboard the brig, 
to report to Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, the result of his 
undertaking. 

The Siren had got into the offing some time after the Intre- 



184 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

pid, agreeably to arrangement, and anchored about three miles 
from the rocks. Here she hoisted out the launch and a cutter, 
manned and armed them, and sent them in, under Mr. Cald- 
well, her first lieutenant. Soon after the brig weighed, and 
the wind having entirely failed outside, she swept into eight 
fathoms water, and anchored again, to cover the retreat, should 
the enemy attempt to board the Intrepid, with his gun-boats. 
It will readily be supposed that it was an anxious moment, and 
as the moon rose, all eyes were on the frigate. After waiting 
in intense expectation near an hour, a rocket went up from the 
Philadelphia. It was the signal of possession, and Mr. Stew- 
art ran below to get another for the answer. He was gone 
only a moment, but when he returned, the fire was seen 
shining through the frigate's ports, and in a few more minutes, 
the flames were rushing up her rigging, as if a train had been 
touched. Then followed the cannonade, and the dashing of 
sweeps, with the approach of the ketch. Presently a boat was 
seen coming alongside, and a man, in a sailor's jacket, sprang 
over the gangway of the brig. It was Decatur, to announce 
his victory ! 

The ketch and brig lay near each other, for about an hour, 
when a strong and favourable wind arose, and they made sail 
for Syracuse, which port they reached on the 19th. Here the 
party was received with salutes and congratulations, by the 
Sicilians, who were also at war with Tripoli, as well as by 
their own countrymen. 

The success of this gallant exploit laid the foundation of the 
name which Mr. Decatur subsequently acquired in the navy. 
The country generally applauded the feat ; and the command- 
ing officer was raised from the station of a lieutenant to that 
of a captain. Most of the midshipmen engaged, were also pro- 
moted, and Lieutenant Commandant Decatur received a sword. 

The Philadelphia was a frigate of the class that the English 
termed a thirty-eight, previously to the war of 1812. Her 
armament consisted of 28 eighteens, on her gun deck, and of 
16 carronades and chase guns, above ; or of 44 guns in the 
whole. No correct estimate has probably ever been made of 
the number of men in her, when she was recaptured. Twenty 
were reported to have been killed, and one boat loaded with 
Turks is said to have escaped ; many also swam ashore, or to 
the nearest cruisers. Some, no doubt, secreted themselves be- 
low, of whom the greater part must have perished in the ship, 
as the party that set fire to the after-store-rooms had difficulty 



1804] NAVAL HISTORY. 185 

in escaping from the flames. But one prisoner was made, a 
wounded Turk, who took refuge in the ketch. On the part of 
the Americans but a single man was hurt. 

In whatever light we regard this exploit, it extorts our admi- 
ration and praise ,• the boldness in the conception of the enter- 
prise, being even surpassed by the perfect manner in which all 
its parts were executed. Nothing appears to have been want- 
ing, in a military point of view ; nothing was deranged ; no- 
thing defeated. The hour was well chosen, and no doubt it 
was a chief reason why the corsairs, gun-boats, and batteries, 
were, in the first place, so slow in commencing their fire, and 
so uncertain in their aim when they did open on the Ameri- 
cans. In appreciating the daring of the attempt, we have only 
to consider what might have been the consequences had the 
assault on the frigate been repulsed. Directly under her guns, 
with a harbour filled with light cruisers, gun-boats, and gal- 
leys, and surrounded by forts and batteries, the inevitable de- 
struction of all in the Intrepid must have followed. These 
were dangers that cool steadiness and entire self-possession, 
aided by perfect discipline, could alone avert. In the service, 
the enterprise has ever been regarded as one of its most brilliant 
achievements ; and to this day, it is deemed a high honour 
to have been one among the Intrepid's crew. The effect on 
the squadron then abroad can scarcely be appreciated ; as its 
seamen began to consider themselves invincible, if not invuK 
nerable, and were ready for any service in which men could 
be employed. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Thus opened the year 1804. The great distance, however, 
that lay between the seat of war and the country, as well as 
the infrequency of direct communications, prevented the gov- 
ernment at home, from getting early information of what was 
passing in the Mediterranean. As a consequence, at the very 
moment when Commodore Preble was beginning to show that 
energy for which he was so remarkable, the department was 
making preparations for superseding him in the command ; not 
16* 



186 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804 

from dissatisfaction, but, as was then believed, from necessity. 
There were but three captains in the navy junior to Preble, and 
one of these was a captive in Tripoli. The loss of the Phila- 
delphia had rendered it indispensable to send out another fri- 
gate, at least ; and the administration had now begun to take so 
serious a view of the state of the relations of the country with 
all the Barbary powers, as to see the importance of exhibiting 
a force that should look down any further attempts on a trade, 
which, in consequence of the general war that prevailed in 
Europe, was beginning to whiten the seas of the old world 
with American canvass. The Emperor of Morocco, who was 
said to be a relative of the Bashaw of Tripoli, was distrusted 
in particular, and many little occurrences had served to prove 
the interest that the former felt in the affairs of the latter. 

The ships that it was now decided to send into the Mediter- 
ranean, were the President 44, Congress 38, Constellation 38, 
and Essex 32. They were put in commission early in the 
season, and as soon as the choice was made, Commodore Pre- 
ble was apprised of it, and of the necessity that existed of send- 
ing out two officers who were his seniors in rank. About the 
same time, Mr. Decatur was made a captain, for the destruc- 
tion of the Philadelphia, and the service received an important 
impulse in the revival of the rank of masters and command- 
ers, which had been dropped altogether, under the reduction 
law of 1801. 

The Siren and Intrepid returned to Syracuse, after the suc- 
cessful attempt on the Philadelphia, on the 19th of February 
of this year. On the 2d of March, Commodore Preble, who 
had so divided his force as to keep some of the small vessels off 
Tripoli blockading, proceeded to Malta, and on his return, he 
sailed again, on the 21st, for the station off the enemy's port. 
The Siren 16, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, and Nautilus 
12, Lieutenant Commandant Somers, were the blockading ves- 
sels at this time, and, early one morning, while coming from 
the eastward to recover lost ground, a vessel with the appear- 
ance of a brig of war, was seen lying-to in the ofhng. As soon 
as he made the Americans, the stranger endeavoured to beat 
back into the harbour again, out of which he had lately come, 
but, the Nautilus being sent close in to employ the gun-boats, 
should they attempt to come out, the Siren cut him off from the 
port, and soon got alongside. This vessel proved to be the 
Transfer, a privateer out of Malta, with a British commission, 
and she had an armament of 16 carronades, and a crew of 80 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 187 

men. When the Siren ran alongside, the Transfer's people 
were at quarters ; but, no resistance being attempted, she was 
captured for a violation of the blockade. Subsequent informa- 
tion induced Commodore Preble to believe that she belonged, in 
fact, to the Bashaw of Tripoli, and that the commission under 
which she sailed was obtained by means of the Tripolitan con- 
sul in Malta, who was a native of that island, and for whose 
appearance on board the brig was actually waiting when taken. 

As the Transfer had been an English gun-brig, and was 
equipped for war, Commodore Preble sent her to Syracuse, 
where she was appraised, manned, and taken into the service 
for the time being. She was called the Scourge, and the com- 
mand of her was given to Lieutenant Commandant Dent, the 
acting captain of the Constitution. 

Remaining off Tripoli a few days, Commodore Preble was 
next actively employed in running from port to port, in order 
to look into the affairs of the different regencies, to communi- 
cate with the captives in Tripoli, and to make his arrangements 
for pursuing a warfare better suited to bringing the bashaw to 
terms. The king of the Two Sicilies being at war with Tri- 
poli, also, in furtherance of the latter duty, the Constitution 
went to Naples, in order to obtain some assistance in executing 
these projects. Here an order for two bomb-vessels and six 
gun-boats was obtained, with the necessary equipments ; and 
Commodore Preble sailed for Messina, where the different craft 
lay. From this time until the middle of July, he was as ac- 
tively engaged as ever, in providing for the wants of the cap- 
tives, in settling a serious difficulty with Tunis, and in preparing 
for an attack on Tripoli ; and we shall quit him, for a moment, 
to return to the movements before that place. 

In April, the Siren, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart ; Ar- 
gus, Lieutenant Commandant Hull ; Enterprise, Lieutenant 
Commandant Decatur; Vixen, Lieutenant Commandant Smith, 
and Scourge, Lieutenant Commandant Dent, composed the 
blockading force, when a felucca was seen stealing along 
shore, coming from the westward, with a view to enter the har- 
bour in a fog. A general chase ensued, and the felucca took 
refuge behind a reef of rocks, about ten miles to the westward 
of Tripoli, where she was run upon a beach of sand. The Si- 
ren now made a signal for the boats to go in, in order to des- 
troy the enemy. Mr. Caldwell, the first lieutenant of the Siren, 
being nearest in, went ahead with the launch and cutter of that 
brig, while the others followed as the vessels came up. As he 



188 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

approached the shore, the boat of Mr. Caldwell got on a sunken 
rock, and the enemy, who had begun to collect in force, parti- 
cularly in cavalry, opened a sharp fire of musketry. Several 
of the Americans were killed and wounded, and perceiving that 
the enemy were both too strong and too well posted to be at- 
tacked by so feeble a force, Mr. Caldwell returned, directing 
the different boats, as he met them, to retire also. 

The Argus and schooners now obtained positions where they 
could throw their shot into the felucca, which was soon ren- 
dered unseaworthy. While this was doing, the Siren ran 
down, opened a ravine in which the Turks were posted, and 
dislodged them by a smart discharge of grape. Afterwards, a 
broadside or two were thrown in among a strong body of cav- 
alry, which had the effect of rendering them cautious in their 
operations on the coast. This little affair illustrates the nature 
of the ordinary warfare that was then carried on, the Tripoli- 
tans sending out bodies of soldiers to cover any vessel that was 
expected with supplies. On this occasion, the felucca was said 
to be loaded with salt, an article that then bore an enormous 
price in Tripoli. 

It was July the 21st, 1804, when Commodore Preble was 
able to sail from Malta, with all the force he had collected, to 
join the vessels cruising off Tripoli. The blockade had been 
kept up with vigour for some months, and the Commodore felt 
that the season had now arrived for more active operations. 
He had with him the Constitution, Enterprise, Nautilus, the 
two bomb-vessels, and the six gun-boats. The bomb-vessels 
were of only thirty tons measurement, and carried a thirteen- 
inch mortar each. In scarcely any respect were they suited 
for the duty that was expected of them. The gun-boats were 
little better, being shallow, unseaworthy craft, of about twenty- 
five tons burthen, in which long iron twenty-fours had been 
mounted. Each boat had one gun, and thirty-five men ; the 
latter, with the exception of a few Neapolitans, being taken 
from the different vessels of the squadron. The Tripolitan 
gun-boats, which have already been described, were altoge- 
ther superior, and the duty should have been exactly reversed, 
in order to suit the qualities of the respective craft ; the boats 
of Tripoli having been built to go on the coast, while those 
possessed by the Americans were intended solely for harbour 
defence. In addition to their other bad qualities, these Neapo- 
litan boats were found neither to sail nor to row even tolerably 
well. It was necessary to tow them, by larger vessels, the 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 189 

moment they got into rough water ; and when it blew heavily, 
there was always danger of dragging them under. In addition 
to this force, Commodore Preble had obtained six long twenty- 
six pounders for the upper-deck of the Constitution, which were 
mounted in the waist. 

When the American commander assembled his whole force 
before Tripoli, on the 25th of July, 1804, it consisted of the 
Constitution 44, Commodore Preble; Siren 16, Lieutenant 
Commandant Stewart; Argus 16, Lieutenant Commandant 
Hull; Scourge 14, Lieutenant Commandant Dent; Vixen 12, 
Lieutenant Commandant Smith; Nautilus 12, Lieutenant 
Commandant Somers; Enterprise 12, Lieutenant Commandant 
Decatur ; the two bomb-vessels, and six gun-boats. In some 
respects this was a well-appointed force for the duty required, 
while in others it was lamentably deficient. Another heavy 
ship, in particular, was wanted, and the means for bombarding 
had all the defects that may be anticipated. The two heaviest 
brigs had armaments of twenty-four-pound carronades ; the 
other brig, and two of the schooners, armaments of eighteen- 
pound carronades ; while the Enterprise retained her original 
equipment of long sixes, in consequence of her ports being 
misuited to the new guns. As the Constitution had a gun- 
deck battery of thirty long twenty-fours, with six long twenty- 
sixes, and some lighter long guns above, it follows that the 
Americans could bring twenty-two twenty-fours and six twenty- 
sixes to bear on the stone walls of the town, in addition to a 
few light chase-guns in the small vessels, and the twelve- 
pounders of the frigate's quarter-deck and forecastle. On the 
whole, there appears to have been in the squadron, twenty- 
eight heavy long guns, with about twenty lighter, that might 
be brought to play on the batteries simultaneously. Opposed to 
these means of offence, the bashaw had one hundred and fifteen 
guns in battery, most of them quite heavy, and nineteen gun- 
boats that, of themselves, so far as metal was concerned, were 
nearly equal to the frigate. Moored in the harbour were also 
two large galleys, two schooners, and a brig, all of which 
were armed and strongly manned. The American squadron 
was manned by one thousand and sixty persons, all told, while 
the bashaw had assembled a force that has been estimated as 
high as twenty-five thousand, Arabs and Turks included. The 
only advantage possessed by the assailants, in the warfare that 
was so soon to follow, were those which are dependent on spirit, 
discipline, and system. 



190 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

The vessels could not anchor until the 28th, when they ran 
in, with the wind at E. S. E., and came-to, by signal, about a 
league from the town. This was hardly done, however, before 
the wind came suddenly round to N. N. W., thence to N. N. 
E., and it began to blow strong, with a heavy sea setting 
directly on shore. At 6 P. M., a signal was made for the ves- 
sels to weigh, and to gain an offing. Fortunately, the wind 
continued to haul to the eastward, or there would have been 
great danger of towing the gun-boats under, while carrying 
sail to claw off the land. The gale continued to increase until 
the 31st, when it blew tremendously. The courses of the 
Constitution were blown away, though reefed, and it would 
have been impossible to save the bomb-vessels and gun-boats, 
had not the wind hauled so far to the southward as to give 
them the advantage of a weather shore, and of comparatively 
smooth water. Fortunately, the gale ceased the next day. 

On the third of August, 1804, the squadron ran in again 
and got within a league of the town, with a pleasant breeze at 
the eastward. The enemy's gun-boats and galleys had come 
outside of the rocks, and were lying there in two divisions ; 
one near the eastern, and the other near the western entrance, 
or about half a mile apart. At the same time, it was seen that 
all the batteries were manned, as if an attack was not only 
expected, but invited. 

At half-past 12, the Constitution wore with her head off 
shore, and showed a signal for all vessels to come within hail. 
As he came up, each commander was ordered to prepare to 
attack the shipping and batteries. The bomb-vessels and gun- 
boats were immediately manned, and such was the high state 
of discipline in the squadron, that in one hour, every thing was 
ready for the contemplated service. 

On this occasion, Commodore Preble made the following 
distribution of that part of his force, which was manned from 
the other vessels of his squadron. 

One bomb-ketch was commanded by Lieutenant Command- 
ant Dent, of the Scourge. 

The other bomb-ketch was commanded by Mr. Robinson, 
first lieutenant of the Constitution. 

First Division of gun-boats. 

No. 1. Lieut. Com. Somers, of the Nautilus. 
" 2. Lieut. James Decatur, of the Nautilus. 
" 3. Lieut. Blake, of the Argus. 



1804] NAVAL HISTORY. 191 

Second division of gun-haats. 
No. 4. Lieut. Com. Decatur, of the Enterprise. 
" 5. Lieut. Bainbridge, of the Enterprise. 
" 6. Lieut. Trippc, of the Vixen. 

At half-past one, the Constitution wore again, and stood 
towards the town. At two, the gun-boats were cast off, and 
formed in advance, covered by the brigs and schooners, and 
half an hour later, the signal was shown to engage. The 
attack was commenced by the two bombards, which began to 
throw shells into the town. It was followed by the batteries, 
which were instantly in a blaze, and then the shipping on both 
sides opened their fire, within reach of grape. 

The eastern, or most weatherly division of the enemy's 
gun-boats, nine in number, as being least supported, was the 
aim of the American gun-boats. But the bad qualities of the 
latter craft were quickly apparent, for, as soon as Mr. Decatur 
steered towards the enemy, with an intention to come to close 
quarters, the division of Mr. Somers, which was a little to lee- 
ward, found it difficult to sustain him. Every effort was made 
by the latter officer, to get far enough to windward to join in 
the attack ; but finding it impracticable, he bore up, and ran 
down alone on five of the enemy to leeward, and engaged them 
all within pistol-shot, throwing showers of grape, canister, 
and musket-balls, among them. In order to do this, as soon 
as near enough, the sweeps were got out, and the boat was 
backed astern to prevent her from drifting in among the enemy. 
No. 3 was closing fast, but a signal of recall* being shown 
from the Constitution, she hauled out of the line to obey, and 
losing ground, she kept more aloof, firing at the boats and 
shipping in the harbour ; while No. 2, Mr. James Decatur, was 
enabled to join the division to windward. No. 5, Mr. Bain- 
bridge, lost her latine-yard, while still in tow of the Siren, but, 
though unable to close, she continued advancing, keeping up a 
heavy fire, and finally touched on the rocks. 

By these changes, Lieutenant Commandant Decaturf had 
three boats that dashed forward with him, though one belonged 
to the division of Mr. Somers, viz. No. 4, No. 6, and No. 2. 

* The signal was bent on by mistake, and was abroad a moment only, 
but the fact that it was shown, was established before a Court of Inquiry, 
which exonerated Mr. Blake from censure. 

t He was Captain Decatur at the time, but the fact was not yet known 
in the squadron. 



192 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

The officers in command of these three boats, went steadily on 
until within the smoke of the enemy. Here they delivered 
their fire, throwing in a terrible discharge of grape and musket- 
balls, and the order was given to board. Up to this moment, 
the odds had been as three to one against the assailants ; and it 
was now, if possible, increased. The brigs and schooners 
could no longer assist. The Turkish boats were not only the 
heaviest and the best in every sense, but they were much the 
strongest manned. The combat now assumed a character of 
chivalrous prowess and of desperate personal efforts, that be- 
longs to the middle ages, rather than to struggles of our own 
times. Its details, indeed, savour more of the glow of romance, 
than of the sober severity that we are accustomed to associate 
with reality. 

Lieutenant Commandant Decatur took the lead. He had no 
sooner discharged his shower of musket-balls, than No. 4 was 
laid alongside the opposing boat of the enemy, and he went 
into her, followed by Lieutenant Thorn, Mr. M'Donough, and 
all the Americans of his crew. The Tripolitan boat was 
divided nearly in two parts, by a long open hatchway, and as the 
people of No. 4 came in on one side, the Turks retreated to the 
other, making a sort of ditch of the open space. This caused 
an instant of delay, and, perhaps, fortunately, for it permitted 
the assailants to act together. As soon as ready, Mr. Decatur 
charged round each end of the hatchway, and after a short 
struggle, a portion of the Turks were piked and bayoneted, 
while the rest submitted, or leaped into the water.* 

No sooner had Mr. Decatur got possession of the boat first 
assailed, than he took her in tow, and bore down on the one 
next to leeward. Running the enemy aboard, as before, he 
went into him, with most of his officers and men. The cap- 
tain of the Tripolitan vessel was a large powerful man, and 
Mr. Decatur personally charged him with a pike. The weapon, 
however, was seized by the Turk, wrested from the hands of 
the assailant, and turned against its owner. The latter parried 
a thrust, and made a blow with his sword at the pike, with a 
view to cut off its head. The sword hit the iron, and broke 
at the hilt, and the next instant the Turk made another thrust. 

* It is probable that the crew of this boat was in a measure staggered 
by the close fire of the gun, as No. 4 approached, her captain having re- 
ceived no fewer than fourteen musket-balls in his body, by that one dis- 
charge. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 193 

Nothing was left to the gallant Decatur, but his arm, with 
which he so far averted the blow, as to receive the pike through 
the flesh of one breast. Pushing the iron from the wound, by 
tearing the flesh, he sprang within the weapon, and grappled 
his antagonist. The pike fell between the two, and a short 
trial of strength succeeded, in which the Turk prevailed. As 
the combatants fell, however, Mr. Decatur so far released him- 
self as to lie side by side with his foe on the deck. The Tri- 
politan now endeavoured to reach his poniard, while his hand 
was firmly held by that of his enemy. At this critical instant, 
when life or death depended on a moment well employed, or a 
moment lost, Mr. Decatur drew a small pistol from the pocket 
of his vest, passed the arm that was free round the body of the 
Turk, pointed the muzzle in, and fired. The ball passed 
entirely through the body of the Mussulman, and lodged in the 
clothes of his foe. At the same instant, Mr. Decatur felt the 
grasp that had almost smothered him relax, and he was liber- 
ated. He sprang up, and the Tripolitan lay dead at his feet. 

In such a melee it cannot be supposed that the struggle of 
the two leaders would go unnoticed. An enemy raised his 
sabre to cleave the skull of Mr. Decatur, while he was occupied 
by his enemy, and a young man of the Enterprise's crew in- 
terposed an arm to save him. The blow was intercepted, but 
the limb was severed to a bit of skin. A fresh rush was now 
made upon the enemy, who was overcome without much further 
resistance. 

An idea of the desperate nature of the fighting that distin- 
guished this remarkable assault, may be gained from the 
amount of the loss. The two boats captured by Lieutenant 
Commandant Decatur, had about eighty men in them, of whom 
fifty-two are known to have been killed and wounded ; most 
of the latter very badly. As only eight prisoners were made 
who were not wounded, and many jumped overboard and 
swam to the rocks, it is not improbable that the Turks suffered 
still more severely. Lieutenant Commandant Decatur himself 
being wounded, he secured his second prize, and hauled off to 
rejoin the squadron ; all the rest of the enemy's division that 
were not taken, having by this time, run into the harbour, by 
passing through the openings between the rocks. 

While Lieutenant Commandant Decatur was thus employed 
to windward, his brother, Mr. James Decatur, the first lieu- 
tenant of the Nautilus, was nobly emulating his example in 
No. 2. Reserving his fire, like No. 4, this young officer 
17 



194 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

dashed into the smoke, and was on the point of boarding, when 
he received a musket-ball in his forehead. The boats met and 
rebounded ; and in the confusion of the death of the command- 
ing officer of No. 2, the Turk was enabled to escape, under a 
heavy fire from the Americans. It was said, at the time, that 
the enemy had struck before Mr. Decatur fell, though the fact 
must remain in doubt. It is, however, believed that he sus- 
tained a very severe loss. 

In the mean time, Mr. Trippe, in- No. 6, the last of the three 
boats that was able to reach the weather division, was not idle. 
Reserving his fire, like the others, he delivered it with deadly 
effect, when closing, and went aboard of his enemy in the 
smoke. In this instance, the boats also separated by the shock 
of the collision, leaving Mr. Trippe, with Mr. J. D. Henley, 
and nine men only, on board the Tripolitan. Here, too, the 
commanders singled each other out, and a severe personal 
combat occurred, while the work of death was going on around 
them. The Turk was young, and of a large athletic form, 
and he soon compelled his slighter but more active foe to fight 
with caution. Advancing on Mr. Trippe, he would strike a 
blow and receive a thrust in return. In this manner, he gave 
the American commander no less than eight sabre wounds in 
the head, and two in the breast ; when, making a sudden rush, 
he struck a ninth blow on the head, which brought Mr. Trippe 
upon a knee. Rallying all his force in a desperate effort, the 
latter,' who still retained the short pike with which he fought, 
made a thrust that passed the weapon through his gigantic 
adversary, and tumbled him on his back. As soon as the 
Tripolitan officer fell, the remainder of his people submitted. 

The boat taken by Mr. Trippe, was one of the largest be- 
longing to the bashaw. The number of her men is not posi- 
tively known, but, living and dead, thirty-six were found in 
her, of whom twenty-one were either killed or wounded. 
When it is remembered that but eleven Americans boarded 
her, the achievement must pass for one of the most gallant on 
record.* 

* While Mr. Trippe was so hard pressed by his antagonist, a Turk 
aimed a blow at him, from behind ; but just before the latter struck, Ser- 
geant Meredith, of the marines, passed a bayonet through his body. 
While the prizes were hauling off, no one had thought, in the confusion 
of such a scene, of lowering the flag of the Tripolitan boat, and she was 
seen advancing with the enemy's ensign set. The Vixen gave her a 
broadside, which brought down colours, mast, latine-yard, and all. For- 
tunately, no one was hurt. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 195 

All this time the cannonade and bombardment continued 
without ceasing.' Lieutenant Commandant Somers, in No. 1, 
sustained by the brigs and schooners, had forced the remain- 
ing boats to retreat, and this resolute officer pressed them so 
hard as to be compelled to ware within a short distance of a 
battery of twelve guns, quite near the mole. Her destruction 
seemed inevitable, as the boat came slowly round, when a shell 
fell into the battery, most opportunely blew up the platform, 
and drove the enemy out, to a man. Before the guns could 
be again used, the boat had got in tow of one of the small ves- 
sels. 

There was a division of five boats and two galleys of the 
enemy, that had been held in reserve within the rocks, and 
these rallied their retreating countrymen, and made two efforts 
to come out and intercept the Americans and their prizes, but 
they were kept in check by the fire of the frigate and small 
vessels. The Constitution maintained a very heavy fire, and 
silenced several of the batteries, though they re-opened as soon 
as she had passed. The bombards were covered with the 
spray of shot, but continued to throw shells to the last. 

At half-past four, the wind coming round to the northward, 
a signal was made for the gun-boats and bomb-ketches to re- 
join the small vessels, and another to take them and the prizes 
in tow. The last order was handsomely executed by the brigs 
and schooners, under cover of a blaze of fire from the frigate. 
A quarter of an hour later, the Constitution herself hauled off, 
and ran out of gun-shot. 

Thus terminated the first serious attack that was made on 
the town and batteries of Tripoli. Its effect on the enemy, 
was of the most salutary kind ; the manner in which their 
gun-boats had been taken, by boarding, having made a lasting 
and deep impression. The superiority of the Christians in 
gunnery, was generally admitted before ; but here was an in- 
stance in which the Turks had been overcome by inferior num- 
bers, hand to hand, a species of conflict in which they had 
been thought particularly to excel. Perhaps no instance of 
more desperate fighting of the sort, without defensive armour, 
is to be found in the pages of history. Three gun-boats were 
sunk in the harbour, in addition to the three that were taken ; 
and the loss of the Tripolitans by shot, must have been very 
heavy. About fifty shells were thrown into the town, but lit- 
tle damage appears to have been done in this way, very few 
of the bombs, on account of the imperfect materials that had 






196 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

been furnished, exploding. The batteries were a good deal 
damaged, but the town suffered no essential injury. 

On the part of the Americans, only 14 were killed and 
wounded in the affair ; and all of these, with the exception of 
one man, belonged to the gun-boats. The Constitution, though 
under fire two hours, escaped much better than could have 
been expected. She received one heavy shot through her 
main-mast, had a quarter-deck gun injured,* and was a good 
deal cut up aloft. The enemy had calculated his range for a 
more distant cannonade, and generally overshot the ships. 
By this mistake the Constitution had her main-royal-yard shot 
away. 

On the occasion of the battle of the 3d of August, the offi- 
cers who had opportunities of particularly distinguishing them- 
selves, were Lieutenants Commandant Decatur and Somers ; 
Lieutenants Trippe, Decatur, Bainbridge, and Thorn, and 
Messrs. M'Donough, Henley, Ridgely, and Miller. But the 
whole squadron behaved well ; and the Constitution was han- 
dled, under the fire of the batteries, with the steadiness of a 
ship working into a roadstead. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

The vessels hauled off and anchored about two leagues 
from Tripoli, to repair their damages. On the morning of 
the 5th, the Argus brought-to a small French privateer that 
had just got out of the harbour, and Commodore Preble in- 
duced her commander to return and carry in all the badly 
wounded among his prisoners. f From the captain of this ves- 
sel, he learned that the enemy had suffered even more than 

* A shot came in aft, hit the gun, and broke in several pieces. Commo- 
dore Preble was directly in its range, but he escaped by the shot's break- 
ing. One of the fragments took off the tip of a marine's elbow, quite 
near him. 

t Mr. Morris of the Argus was rowing guard, close in, when he found 
himself unexpectedly alongside of a strange sail. Without hesitating, 
he boarded and carried her by surprise, when she proved to be the priva- 
teer in question. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 197 

had been supposed in the attack of the 3d, particularly in and 
about the port. On the 7th, the privateer came out, bringing 
a letter from the French consul, stating that the Bashaw was 
much more disposed to treat than previously to the late affair, 
and advising the commodore to send in a flag of truce, with a 
view to negotiate. As the castle made no signal to support 
this proposition, it was not regarded. 

Between the 3d and the 7th, the squadron was occupied in 
altering the rig of the three captured gun-boats, and in putting 
them in a condition for service. As soon as the latter were 
equipped, they were numbered 7, 8, and 9, and the command 
of them was given to Lieutenants Crane, Caldwell, and Thorn. 
At 9 A. M., on the 7th, the light vessels weighed, and the bom- 
bards proceeded to take a position in a small bay to the west- 
ward of the town, where they were not much exposed to shot. 
At half-past 2, the bombards, having gained their anchorage, 
commenced throwing shells, and the gun-boats opened a heavy 
fire on the batteries. The effect on the latter was soon appa- 
rent, and many of their guns were rendered useless. In the 
height of the cannonade, a strange vessel appeared in the off- 
ing, and the Argus was sent in chase. The enemy now be- 
gan to get his galleys and gun-boats in motion, and once or 
twice they advanced towards the opening between the rocks, 
and commenced a fire ; but the Constitution, Nautilus, and 
Enterprise, being stationed to windward to cut them off, and 
the Siren and Vixen lying near the American gun-vessels to 
cover the latter, the enemy, after the lesson received on the 3d, 
were afraid to venture. 

At half-past 3, or after the action had lasted about an hour, 
a hot shot passed through the magazine of No. 8, Lieutenant 
Caldwell, the boat taken by Mr. Trippe in the affair of the 3d, 
and she immediately blew up. When the smoke cleared away, 
all the after part of the boat was under water, while Mr. Rob- 
ert T. Spence, of the Siren, and 11 men were forward, load- 
ing the long twenty-six-pounder that formed her armament. 
This gun was loaded and fired, and its gallant crew gave three 
cheers as their vessel sunk beneath them. Mr. Spence, who 
could not swim, saved himself on an oar, while the rest of the 
people got on board the different boats, where they continued 
to fight during the remainder of the action. 

No. 8, when she blew up, had a crew of 28 persons in all, 
of whom 10 were killed and 6 wounded. Among the former 
was Mr. Caldwell, her commander, the first lieutenant of the 
17* 



198 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

Siren, and Mr. Dorsey, a midshipman of the same vessel. 
These two officers were greatly regretted, as both bade fair to 
be ornaments to their profession.* 

At half-past 5, or after the cannonade had lasted nearly 
three hours, the Constitution made a signal for the brigs and 
schooners to take the bombards and gun-boats in tow, and the 
squadron hauled off for its anchorage again. Just at this time, 
the Argus made a signal that the sail in sight was a friend. 

The gun-boats, in this attack, suffered considerably. In 
consequence of the wind's being on-shore, Commodore Preble 
had kept the frigate out of the action, and the enemy's batteries 
had no interruption from the heavy fire of that ship. Several 
of the American boats had been hulled, and all suffered ma- 
terially in their sails and rigging. No. 6, Lieutenant Wads- 
worth, had her latine-yard shot away. The killed and wounded 
amounted to 18 men. 

At 8 o'clock in the evening, the John Adams "28, Captain 
Chauncey, from America, came within hail of the Constitution, 
and reported herself. By this ship, Commodore Preble re- 
ceived despatches informing him of the equipment of the vessels 
that were to come out under Commodore Barron, and of the 
necessity, which was thought to exist, of superseding him in 
the command. Captain Chauncey also stated the probability 
of the speedy arrival of the expected ships, which were to sail 
shortly after his own departure. As the John Adams had 
brought stores for the squadron, and had put most of her gun- 
carriages in the other frigates to enable her to do so, she could 
be of no immediate use ; and the rest of the vessels being so 
soon expected, Commodore .Preble was induced to delay the 
other attacks he had meditated, on the ground of prudence. 

By the Jobn Adams, intelligence reached the squadron of 
the re-establishment of the rank of masters and commanders, 

* Mr. Edmund P. Kennedy, one of the gunner's crew belonging to the 
Siren, was the captain of the gun, on board No. 8, when she blew up. 
Mr. Kennedy was a young gentleman of Maryland, who had quitted 
school in quest of adventure, and, having been impressed into the British 
navy, on obtaining his discharge in the Mediterranean, he entered under 
the flag of his country. In consequence of his good conduct on this oc- 
casion, and from a desire to place him in a station better suited to his 
pretensions, Commodore Preble made Mr. Kennedy an acting midship- 
man. The appointment was confirmed at home, and the gentleman in 
question has since worn a broad pennant. It is believed that this officer 
and one other, are the only two in the navy who can boast of having gone 
through all the gradations of the service, from forward, aft. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 199 

and the new commissions were brought out to the officers be- 
fore Tripoli, who had been promoted. In consequence of these 
changes, Lieutenant Commandant Decatur was raised to the 
rank of captain, and became the second in command then pre- 
sent; while Lieutenants Commandant Stewart, Hull, Chauncey, 
Smith, and Somers, became masters commandant, in the order 
in which they are named. Several of the young gentlemen 
were also promoted, including most of those who had a share 
in the destruction of the Philadelphia. 

The bashaw now became more disposed than ever to treat, 
the warfare promising much annoyance, with no corresponding 
benefits. The cannonading did his batteries and vessels great 
injuries, though the town probably suffered less than might 
have been expected, being in a measure protected by its walls. 
The shells, too, that had been procured at Messina, turned out 
to be very bad, few exploding when they fell.* The case was 
different with the shot, which did their work effectually on the 
different batteries. Some idea may be formed of the spirit of 
the last attack, from the report of Commodore Preble, who 
stated that nine guns, one of which was used but a short time, 
threw 500 heavy shot, in the course of little more than two 
hours. 

Although the delay caused by the expected arrival of the 
reinforcement, was improved to open a negotiation, it was 
without effect. The bashaw had lowered his demands quite 
half, but he still insisted on a ransom of $500 a man for his 
prisoners, though he waived the usual claim for tribute in fu- 
ture. These propositions were not received, it being expected 
that, after the arrival of the reinforcement, the treaty might be 
made on the usual terms of civilised nations. 

On the 9th of August, the Argus, Captain Hull, had a nar- 
row escape. That brig having stood in towards the town, to 
reconnoitre, with Commodore Preble on board, one of the hea- 
viest of the shot from the batteries, raked her bottom for some 
distance, and cut the planks half through. An inch or two of 
variation in the direction of this shot, would infallibly have 
sunk the brig, and that probably in a very few minutes. 

* According to the private journal of Captain Bainbridge, then a pri- 
soner in the town, out of forty-eight shells thrown by the two bombards in 
the attack of the 7th, but one exploded. Agreeably to the records made 
by this officer at the time, the bombs on no occasion did much injury, and 
the town generally suffered less by shot even than was commonly sup- 
posed. 



200 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

No intelligence arriving from the expected vessels, Com- 
modore Preble, about the 16th, began to make his prepara- 
tions for another attack, sending the Enterprise, Lieutenant 
Commandant Robinson, to Malta, with orders for the agent to 
forward transports with water, the vessels being on a short 
allowance of that great essential. On the night of the 17th, 
Captains Decatur and Chauncey went close in, in boats, and 
reconnoitred the situation of the enemy. These officers, on 
their return, reported that the vessels of the Tripolitan flotilla 
were moored abreast of each other, in a line extending from 
the mole to the castle, with their heads to the eastward, which 
was making a defence directly across the inner harbour or 
galley-mole. 

A gale, however, compelled the American squadron to stand 
off shore on the morning of the 18th, which caused another 
delay in the contemplated movements. While lying-to, in the 
offing, the vessels met the transports from Malta, and the En- 
terprise returned, bringing no intelligence from the expected 
reinforcement. 

On the 24th, the squadron stood in towards the town again, 
with a light breeze from the eastward. At 8 P. M., the Con- 
stitution anchored just out of gun-shot of the batteries, but it 
fell calm, and the boats of the different vessels were sent to 
tow the bombards to a position favourable for throwing shells. 
This was thought to have been effected by 2 A. M., when the 
two vessels began to heave their bombs, covered by the gun- 
boats. At daylight, they all retired, without having received 
a shot in return. Commodore Preble appears to have dis- 
trusted the result of this bombardment, the first attempted at 
night, and there is reason to think it produced but little effect.* 

The weather proving very fine and the wind favourable, on 
the 28th, Commodore Preble determined to make a more vi- 
gorous assault on the town and batteries, than any which had 
preceded it, and his dispositions were taken accordingly. The 
gun-boats and bombards requiring so many men to manage 
them, the Constitution and the small vessels had been com- 
pelled to go into action short of hands, in the previous affairs. 
To obviate this difficulty, the John Adams had been kept be- 
fore the town, and a portion of her officers and crew, and 
nearly all her boats, were put in requisition, on the present 

* Captain Bainbridge, in his private journal, says that all the shells 
thrown on this occasion fell short. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 201 

occasion. Captain Chauncey, himself, with about seventy of 
his people, went on board the flag-ship, and all the boats of the 
squadron were hoisted out and manned. The bomb vessels were 
crippled and could not be brought into service, a circumstance 
that probably was of no great consequence, on account of the 
badness of the materials they were compelled to use.* These 
two vessels, with the Scourge, transports, and John Adams, 
were anchored well off at sea, not being available in the con- 
templated cannonading. 

Every thing being prepared, a little after midnight the fol- 
lowing gun-boats proceeded to their stations, viz : No. 1 , Cap- 
tain Somers ; No. 2, Lieutenant Gordon ; No. 3, Mr. Brooks, 
master of the Argus ; No. 4, Captain Decatur ; No. 5, Lieu- 
tenant Lawrence ; No. 6, Lieutenant Wadsworth ; No. 7, Lieu- 
tenant Crane ; and No. 9, Lieutenant Thorn. They were di- 
vided into two divisions, as before, Captain Decatur having 
become the superior officer, however, by his recent promotion. 
About 3 A. M. the gun-boats advanced close to the rocks at 
the entrance of the harbour, covered by the Siren, Captain 
Stewart, Argus, Captain Hull, Vixen, Captain Smith, Nautilus, 
Lieutenant Reed, and Enterprise, Lieutenant Commandant Ro- 
binson, and accompanied by all the boats of the squadron. 
Here they anchored, with springs on their cables, and com- 
menced a cannonade on the enemy's shipping, castle, and 
town. As soon as the day dawned, the Constitution weighed 
and stood in towards the rocks, under a heavy fire from the 
batteries, Fort English, and the castle. At this time, the ene- 
my's gun-boats and galleys, thirteen in number, were closely 
and warmly engaged with the eight American boats ; and the 
Constitution, ordering the latter to retire by signal, as their 
ammunition was mostly consumed, delivered a heavy fire of 
round and grape on the former as she came up. One of the 
enemy's boats was soon sunk, two were run ashore to prevent 
them from meeting a similar fate, and the rest retreated. 

The Constitution now continued to stand on, until she had 
run in within musket-shot of the mole, when she brought-to, 
and opened upon the town, batteries, and castle. Here she 
lay three-quarters of an hour, pouring in a fierce fire, with 

* It is stated that Commodore Preble subsequently discovered lead in 
the fuse-holes of many of the bombs. It was supposed that this had been 
done by treachery, by means of French agents in Sicily, the shells having 
been charged to resist the French invasion. 



202 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

great effect, until finding that all the small vessels were out 
of gun-shot, she hauled off. About 700 heavy shot were thrown 
at the enemy, in this attack, besides a good many from the 
chase-guns of the small vessels. The enemy sustained much 
damage, and lost many men. The American brigs and schoon- 
ers were a good deal injured aloft, as was the Constitution. 
Although the latter ship was so long within reach of grape, 
many of which shot struck her, she had not a man hurt ! 
Several of her shrouds, back-stays, trusses, spring-stays, 
chains, lifts, and a great deal of running rigging were shot 
away, and yet her hull escaped with very trifling injuries. A 
boat belonging to the John Adams, under the orders of Mr. 
John Orde Creighton, one of that ship's master's mates, was 
sunk by a double-headed shot, which killed three men, and 
badly wounded a fourth, but the officer and the rest of the 
boat's crew were saved. 

In this attack a heavy shot from the American gun-boats 
struck the castle, passed through a wall, and rebounding from 
the opposite side of the room, fell within six inches of Captain 
Bainbridge, who was in bed at the moment, and covered him 
with stones and mortar ; from under which he was taken, con- 
siderably hurt, by his own officers. More injury was done the 
town in this attack, than in either of the others, the shot ap- 
pearing to have told on many of the houses. 

From this time to the close of the month, preparations were 
making to use the bombards again, and for renewing the can- 
nonading, another transport having arrived from Malta, with- 
out bringing any intelligence of the vessels under the orders 
of Commodore Barron. On the 3d of September, every thing 
being ready, at half-past two the signal was made for the small 
vessels to advance. The enemy had improved the time as 
well as the Americans, and they had raised three of their own 
gun-boats that had been sunk in the affairs of the 3d and of 
the 28th of August. These craft were now added to the rest 
of their flotilla. 

The Tripolitans had also changed their mode of fighting. 
Hitherto, with the exception of the affair of the 3d, their galleys 
and gun-boats had lain either behind the rocks, in positions to 
fire over them, or at the openings between them, and they con- 
sequently found themselves to leeward of the frigate and small 
American cruisers, the latter invariably choosing easterly 
winds to advance with, as they would permit crippled vessels 
to retire. On the 3d of August, the case excepted, the Turks 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 203 

had been so roughly treated by being brought hand to hand, 
when they evidently expected nothing more than a cannonade, 
that they were not disposed to venture again outside of the har- 
bour. On the 3d of September, however, the day at which 
we have now arrived, their plan of defence was judiciously 
altered. No sooner was it perceived that the American squad- 
ron was in motion, with a fresh design to annoy them, than 
their gun-boats and galleys got under way, and worked up to 
windward, until they had gained a station on the weather side 
of the harbour, directly under the fire of Fort English, as well 
as of a new battery that had been erected a little to the west- 
ward of the latter. 

This disposition of the enemy's force, required a correspond- 
ing change on the part of the Americans. The bombards 
were directed to take stations and to commence throwing their 
shells ; while the gun-boats, in two divisions, commanded as 
usual by Captains Decatur and Somers, and covered by the 
brigs and schooners, assailed the enemy's flotilla. This ar- 
rangement separated the battle into two distinct parts, leaving 
the bomb vessels very much exposed to the fire of the castle, 
the mole, crown, and other batteries. 

The Tripolitan gun-boats and galleys stood the fire of the 
American flotilla until the latter had got within reach of mus- 
ketry, when they retreated. The assailants now separated, 
some of the gun-boats following the enemy, and pouring in 
their fire, while the others, with the brigs and schooners, can- 
nonaded Fort English. 

In the mean while, perceiving that the bombards were suf- 
fering severely from the undisturbed fire of the guns to which 
they were exposed, Commodore Preble ran down in the Con- 
stitution, quite near the rocks, and within the bomb vessels, 
and brought to. Here the frigate opened as warm a fire as 
probably ever came out of the broadside of a single-decked 
ship, and in a position where seventy heavy guns could bear 
upon her. The whole harbour in the vicinity of the town, was 
glittering with the spray of her shot, and each battery, as usual, 
was silenced as soon as it drew her attention. After throwing 
more than three hundred round shot, besides grape and can- 
ister, the frigate hauled off, having previously ordered the 
other vessels to retire from action, by signal. 

The gun-boats, in this affair, were an hour and fifteen min- 
utes engaged, in which time they threw four hundred round 
shot, besides grape and canister. Lieutenant Trippe, who 



204 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

had so much distinguished himself, and who had received so 
many wounds that day month, resumed the command of No. 
6, for this occasion. Lieutenant Morris, of the Argus, was in 
charge of No. 3. All the small vessels suffered, as usual, 
aloft, and the Argus sustained some damage in her hull. 

The Constitution was so much exposed in the attack just 
related, that her escape can only be attributed to the weight of 
her own fire. It had been found, in the previous affairs, that 
so long as this ship could play upon a battery, the Turks could 
not be kept at its guns ; and it was chiefly while she was veer- 
ing, or tacking, that she suffered. But, after making every 
allowance for the effect of her own cannonade, and for the im- 
perfect gunnery of the enemy, it creates wonder that a single 
frigate could lie opposed to more than double her own number 
of available guns, and these too, principally, of heavier metal, 
while they were protected by stone walls. On this occasion, 
the frigate was not supported by the gun-boats at all, and she 
became the sole object of the enemy's aim after the bombards 
had withdrawn. 

As might have been expected, the Constitution suffered more 
in the attack just recorded, than in any of the previous affairs, 
though she received nothing larger than grape in her hull. 
She had three shells through her canvass, one of which ren- 
dered the main-top-sail momentarily useless. Her sails, stand- 
ing and running rigging were also much cut with shot. Cap- 
tain Chauncey, of the John Adams, and a party of his officers 
and crew, served in the Constitution again on this day, and 
were of essential use. Indeed, in all the service which suc- 
ceeded her arrival, the commander, officers, and crew of the 
John Adams were actively employed, though the ship herself 
could not be brought before the enemy, for the want of gun- 
carriages. 

The bombards, having been much exposed, suffered accord- 
ingly. No. 1, was so much crippled, as to be unable to move, 
without being towed, and was near sinking when she was got 
to the anchorage. Every shroud she had was shot away. 
Commodore Preble expressed himself satisfied with the good 
conduct of every man in the squadron. All the vessels appear 
to have been well conducted, and efficient in their several sta- 
tions. Of the effect of the shells, there is no account to be re- 
lied on, though it is probable that, as usual, many did not ex- 
plode. There is no doubt, however, that the bombs were well 
directed, and that they fell into the town. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 205 

While Commodore Preble was thus actively employed in 
carrying on the war against the enemy, the attack just re- 
lated having been the fifth made on the town within a month, 
he was meditating another species of annoyance," that was 
now ready to be put in execution. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

The ketch Intrepid, which had been employed by Mr. Deca- 
tur in burning the Philadelphia, was still in the squadron, hav- 
ing been used of late as a transport between Tripoli and Mal- 
ta. This vessel had been converted into an " infernal," or, 
to use more intelligible terms, she had been fitted as a floating 
mine, with the intention of sending her into the^harbour of Tri- 
poli, to explode among the enemy's cruisers. As every thing 
connected with the history of this little vessel, as well* as with 
the enterprise in which she was about to be employed, will have 
interest with the public, we shall be more particular than com- 
mon in giving the details of this affair, as they have reached 
us through public documents, and oral testimony that is deem- 
ed worthy of entire credit. 

A small room or magazine had been planked up in the hold 
of the ketch, just forward of her principal mast. Communi- 
cating with this magazine was a trunk or tube, that led aft, to 
another room filled with combustibles. In the planked room, 
or magazine, were placed one hundred barrels of gunpowder 
in bulk, and on the deck immediately above the powder, were 
laid fifty thirteen and a half inch shells, and one hundred nine 
inch shells, with a large quantity of shot, pieces of kentledge, 
and fragments of iron of different sorts. A train was laid in 
the trunk, or tube, and fuses were attached in the proper man- 
ner. In addition to this arrangement, the other small room 
mentioned was filled with splinters and light wood, which, be- 
sides firing the train, were to keep the enemy from boarding, 
as the flames would be apt to induce them to apprehend an im- 
mediate explosion. 

The plan was well laid. It was the intention to profit by 
the first dark night that offered, to carry the ketch as far as 
IS 



206 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

possible into the galley-mole, to light the fire in the splinter- 
room, and for the men employed, to make their retreat in boats. 

The arrangements for carrying this project into effect ap- 
pear to have been made with care and prudence. Still the 
duty, on every account, was deemed desperate. It was neces- 
sary, in the first place, to stand in by the western or little 
passage, in a dull-sailing vessel, and with a light wind, directly 
in the face of several batteries, the fire of which could only be 
escaped by the enemy's mistaking the ketch for a vessel en- 
deavouring to force the blockade. It would also be required to 
pass quite near these batteries, and, as the ketch advanced, she 
would be running in among the gun-boats and galleys of the 
enemy. It is not necessary to point out the hazards of such 
an exploit, as a simple cannonade directed against a small 
vessel filled with powder, would of itself be, in the last degree, 
dangerous. After every thing had succeeded to the perfect 
hopes of the assailants, there existed the necessity of effecting 
a retreat, the service being one in which no quarter could be 
expected. 

Such a duty could be confided to none but officers and men 
of known coolness and courage, of perfect self-possession, and 
of tried spirit. Captain Somers, who had commanded one 
division of the gun-boats in the different attacks on the town 
that have been related, in a manner to excite the respect of all 
who witnessed his conduct, volunteered to take charge of this 
enterprise; and Lieutenant Wads worth, of the Constitution, an 
officer of great merit, offered himself as the second in com- 
mand. It being unnecessary to send in any more than these 
two gentlemen, with the few men needed to manage the ketch 
and row the boats, no other officer was permitted to go, though 
it is understood that several volunteered. 

The night of the 4th of September, or that of the day which 
succeeded the attack last related, promising to be obscure, and 
there being a good leading wind from the eastward, it was 
selected for the purpose. Commodore Preble appears to have 
viewed the result of this expedition with great anxiety, and to 
have ordered all its preparations, with the utmost personal 
attention to the details. This feeling is believed to have been 
increased by his knowledge of the character of the officers 
who were to go in, and who, it was understood, had expressed 
a determination neither to be taken, nor to permit the ammuni- 
tion in the ketch to fall into the enemy's hands. The latter 
point was one of great importance, it being understood that the 



1804] NAVAL HISTORY. 207 

Tripolitans, like the Americans, were getting to be in want of 
powder.* In short, it was the general understanding in the 
squadron, before the ketch proceeded, that her officers had deter- 
mined not to be taken. Two fast-rowing boats, one belonging 
to the Constitution, that pulled six oars, and one belonging to 
the Siren, that pulled four oars, were chosen to bring the party 
off, and their crews were volunteers from the Constitution and 
Nautilus. At the last moment, Mr. Israel, an ardent young 
officer, whose application to go in had been rejected, found 
means to get on board the ketch, and, in consideration of his 
gallantry, he was permitted to join the party. 

When all was ready, or about 8 o'clock in the evening of 
the day just mentioned, the Intrepid was under way, with the 
Argus, Vixen, and Nautilus in company. Shortly after, the 
Siren also weighed, by a special order from the commodore, 
and stood in towards the western passage, or that by which 
the ketch was to enter, where she remained to look out for the 
boats. 

The Nautilus, Captain Somers' own vessel, accompanied the 
ketch close in, but, on reaching a position where there was 
danger of her creating suspicions by being seen, she hauled 
off, to i take her station, like the other small vessels, near the 
rocks, in order to pick up the retreating boats. The last per- 
son of the squadron who had any communication with Captain 
Somers, was Mr. Washington Reed, the first lieutenant of his 
own schooner, the Nautilus, who left him about 9 o'clock. At 
that time, all was calm, collected, and in order, on board the 
" infernal." The general uneasiness was increased by the cir- 
cumstance that three gun-boats lay near the entrance ; and 
some of the last words of the experienced Decatur, before 
taking leave of his friend, were to caution him against these 
enemies. 

The sea was covered with a dense haze, though the stars 
were visible, and the last that may be said to have been seen 
of the Intrepid, was the shadowy forms of her canvass, as she 
steered slowly, but steadily, into the obscurity, where the eyes 



* A day or two before the ketch was ready, the commodore himself 
was trying a port-fire in the cabin of the Constitution, in the presence of 
Captain Somers, and of one or two other officers, and finding that one 
burned a particular time, by the watch, he remarked that he thought " it 
burned longer than was necessary, as the time might enable the enemy to 
approach and extinguish it before the train would be fired." " I ask for 
no port-fire at all," was the quiet answer of Captain Somers, 



208 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

of the many anxious spectators fancied they could still trace 
her dim outline, most probably after it had totally disappeared. 
This sinking into the gloom of night, was no bad image of the 
impenetrable mystery that has veiled the subsequent proceed- 
ings of the gallant party on board her. 

When the Intrepid was last seen by the naked eye, she was 
not a musket-shot from the mole, standing directly for the har- 
bour. One officer on board the nearest vessel, the Nautilus, 
is said, however, to have never lost sight of her with a night- 
glass, but even he could distinguish no more than her dim pro- 
portions. There is a vague rumour that she touched on the 
rocks, though it does not appear to rest on sufficient authority 
to be entitled to much credit. To the last moment, she ap- 
pears to have been advancing. About this time the batteries 
began to fire. Their shot are said to have been directed to- 
wards every point where an enemy might be expected, and it 
is not improbable that some were aimed at the ketch. 

The period between the time when the Intrepid was last 
seen, and that when most of those who watched without the 
rocks learned her fate, was not long. This was an interval 
of intense, almost of breathless expectation ; and it was inter- 
rupted only by the flashes and the roar of the enemy's guns. 
Various reports exist of what those who gazed into the gloom 
beheld, or fancied they beheld ; but one melancholy fact alone 
would seem to be beyond contradiction. A fierce and sudden 
light illuminated the panorama, a torrent of fire streamed up- 
ward, and a concussion followed that made the cruisers in the 
offing tremble from their trucks to their keels. This sudden 
blaze of light was followed by a darkness of two-fold intensity, 
and the guns of the battery became mute, as if annihilated. 
Numerous shells were seen in the air, and some of them de- 
scended on the rocks, where they were heard to fall. The 
fuses were burning, and a few exploded, but much the greater 
part were extinguished in the water. The mast, too, had risen 
perpendicularly, with its rigging and canvass blazing, but the 
descent veiled all in night. 

So sudden and tremendous was the eruption, and so intense 
the darkness which succeeded, that it was not possible to ascer- 
tain the precise position of the ketch at the moment. In the 
glaring, but fleeting light, no person could say that he had 
noted more than the material circumstance, that the Intrepid 
had not reached the point at which she aimed. The shells had 
not spread far, and those which fell on the rocks were so many 



1804.J NAVAL HISTORY. 209 

proofs of this important truth. There was no other fact to in- 
dicate the precise spot where the ketch exploded. A few cries 
arose from the town, but the subsequent and deep silence that 
followed was more eloquent than any clamour. The whole 
of Tripoli was like a city of tombs. 

If every eye had been watchful previously to the explosion, 
every eye now became doubly vigilant to discover the retreat- 
ing boats. Men got over the sides of the vessels, holding 
lights, and placing their ears near the water, in the hope of 
detecting the sounds of even muffled oars ; and often was it 
fancied that the gallant adventurers were near. They never 
re-appeared. Hour after hour went by, until hope itself be- 
came exhausted. Occasionally, a rocket gleamed in the dark- 
ness, or a sullen gun was heard from the frigate, as signals to 
the boats ; but the eyes that should have seen the first, were 
sightless, and the last tolled on the ears of the dead. 

The three vessels assigned to that service hovered around 
the harbour until the sun rose ; but few traces of the Intrepid, 
and nothing of her devoted crew, could be discovered. The 
wreck of the mast lay on the rocks near the western entrance, 
and here and there a fragment was visible nigh it. One of the 
largest of the enemy's gun-boats was missing, and it was ob- 
served that two others, which appeared to be shattered, were 
being hauled upon the shore. The three that had lain across 
the entrance had disappeared. It was erroneously thought 
that the castle had sustained some injury from the concussion, 
though, on the whole, the Americans were left with the melan- 
choly certainty of having met with a serious loss, without ob- 
taining a commensurate advantage. 

It is now known that the bottom of the ketch grounded on 
the north side of the rocks, near the round battery at the end 
of the mole ; and as the wind was at the eastward, this renders 
it certain that the explosion took place in the western entrance 
to the harbour, and fully a quarter of a mile from the spot that 
it was intended the ketch should reach. In the wreck were 
found two mangled bodies, and four more were picked up on 
the 6th, floating in the harbour, or lodged on the shore. These 
bodies were in the most shocking state of mutilation, and, 
though Captain Bainbridge and one or two of his companions 
were taken to see them, it was found impossible to distinguish 
even the officers from the men. It is understood that six more 
bodies were found, the day after the explosion, on the shore to 
18* 



210 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

the southward of the town, and that a six-oared boat, with one 
body in it, had drifted on the beach to the westward.* 

These statements account for all those who went in the 
ketch, and furnish conjectural clues to facts that would other- 
wise be veiled in impenetrable mystery. The spot where the 
boat was found, was a proof that the ketch had not got very 
far into the passage, or the cutter could not have drifted clear 
of the natural mole to the westward. The reason that the boat 
and the ketch's bottom were not found near the same spot, was 
probably because the first was acted on more by the wind, and 
the last by the current ; and the fact that a boat may have 
drifted through rocks, with which the shore is everywhere 
more or less lined, that would have brought up the wreck. 

As there was but one body found in the boat, we are left to 
suppose it was that of the keeper. Of the four-oared boat, or 
that which belonged to the Siren, there does not appear to have 
been any tidings, and it was either destroyed by the explosion, 
sunk by the fall of fragments, or privately appropriated to 
himself by some Tripolitan. 

From the fact of there being but a single man in the Consti- 
tution's cutter, there is reason to infer that most of the officers 
and men were on board the ketch, herself, when she blew up. 
No person is understood to say that any of the enemy's vessels 
were seen near the ketch, when she exploded, and, with these 
meagre premises, we are left to draw our inferences as to the 
causes of the disaster. 

That Captain Somers was as capable of sacrificing himself, 
when there was an occasion for it, as any man who ever lived, 
is probably as true as it is certain that he would not destroy 
himself, and much less others, without sufficient reason. It 
has been supposed that the ketch was boarded by the enemy, 
and that her resolute commander fired the train in preference 
to being taken. The spirit created by the chivalrous exploits 
of Decatur, and the high-toned discipline and daring of Pre- 
ble, had communicated to all under their orders as lofty senti- 
ments of duty and zeal as probably were ever found among 
an equal body of generous and ardent young men; but it is 
not easy to discover a motive why the explosion should have 
been an intentional act of the Americans, and it is easy to dis- 
cover many why it should not. 

There would be but one sufficient justification for an offi- 

* Captain Bainbridge's private journal. 



1804] NAVAL HISTORY. 211 

cer's sacrificing himself or his people under such circum- 
stances, and that was the impossibility of preventing the ketch 
from falling into the hands of the enemy, by any other means. 
Neither the evidence of eye-witnesses, so far as it is available, 
nor the accounts of the Tripolitans themselves, would appear 
to show, that when the Intrepid exploded, any enemy was near 
enough to render so desperate a step necessary. According 
to the private journal of Captain Bainbridge, neither the town 
nor the Turks suffered materially, and he was carried to the 
beach to see the dead bodies, on the 8th, or two days after the 
affair. This alone would prove that the ketch did not reach 
the mole. If the object were merely to destroy the powder, 
the men would have been previously ordered into the boats, 
and, even under circumstances that rendered a resort to the 
fuse inexpedient, the train would have been used. That only 
one man was in the largest boat, is known from the condition 
in which she was found, and this could hardly have happened, 
under any circumstances, had the magazine been fired inten- 
tionally, by means of the train. Every contingency had doubt- 
less been foreseen. One man was as able as twenty to apply 
the match, and we can see but one state of things, besides 
being boarded by surprise, that would render it likely that the 
match would have been used until the people were in their 
boats, or that it would have been applied at any other spot, than 
at the end of the train, or aft. A surprise of the nature men- 
tioned, would seem to have been impossible ,• for, though the 
night was misty, objects might still be seen at some little dis- 
tance, and it is probable, also, that the party had glasses. 

From weighing these circumstances, it is the most rational 
opinion that the Intrepid was not intentionally blown up. She 
was under fire at the time, and though it is improbable that the 
enemy had any shot heated to repel an attack so unexpected, 
a cold shot might easily have fired a magazine in the situation 
of that of the Intrepid. The deck of the ketch, moreover, 
was covered with loaded shells, and one of these might have 
been struck and broken. Some other unforeseen accident may 
have occurred. On the other hand, it is necessary to sfatej 
that Commodore Preble firmly believed that his officers blew 
themselves up, in preference to being made prisoners ; an opin- 
ion in which it would not be difficult to coincide, were there 
proof that they were in any immediate danger of such a ca- 
lamity. It was also the general conjecture in the squadron 
then before Tripoli, that such had been the fate of these bold 



212 NAVAL HISTORY. [1604. 

adventurers ; but it would seem to have been formed at the 
time, rather on an opinion of what the party that went in was 
capable of doing, than on any evidence of what it had actu- 
ally done. 

As it is the province of the historian to present all the lead- 
ing facts of his subject, we shall add, on the other hand, that 
many little collateral circumstances appear to have occurred, 
which may be thought to give force to the truth of the com- 
mon impression. One of the best authenticated of these, is 
connected with what was seen from a vessel that was watch- 
ing the ketch, though it was not the schooner nearest in. On 
board this vessel a light was observed moving on a horizontal 
line, as if carried swiftly along a vessel's deck by some one 
in hurried motion, and then to drop suddenly, like a lantern 
sinking beneath a hatchway. Immediately afterwards the 
ketch exploded, and at that precise spot, which would seem to 
leave no doubt that this light was on board the Intrepid. But 
even this by no means establishes the fact that the explosion 
was intentional. The splinters, that were to keep the enemy 
aloof, had not been lighted, and this movement with the lan- 
tern may have been intended to fire them, and may have had 
some accidental connexion with the explosion. 

In addition to this appearance of the light, which rests on 
testimony every way entitled to respect, there was a report 
brought off by the prisoners, then in Tripoli, when liberated, 
from which another supposition has been formed as to the fate 
of this devoted vessel, that is not without plausibility. It was 
said that most of the bodies found had received gun-shot 
wounds, especially from grape. One body, in particular, was 
described as having had the small remains of nankeen panta- 
loons on it, and it was also reported that the hair* was of a 
deep black. Through this person, according to the report, no 
less than three grape-shot had passed. This has been sup- 
posed to have been the body of Captain Somers himself, who 
was the only one of the party that wore nankeens, and whose 
hair was of a deep black. On the supposition that the proofs 
of the grape-shot wounds actually existed, it has been conjec- 
tured that, as the ketch advanced, she was fired into with 
grape, most of her people shot down, and that the magazine 
was touched off by the two whose bodies were found in the 

* It is possible certainly that this mark may have been observed, but 
it is more probable that the hair would have been consumed. Still a hat 
may have saved it. 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 213 

wreck, and who were probably below when the Intrepid ex- 
ploded. 

That a close fire was opened when the ketch appeared, is 
beyond doubt, and that she was quite near the mole and crown 
batteries when the explosion occurred, is known, not only by 
means of the glass, but by the parts of the wreck that fell on 
the rocks. Indeed, the situation of the latter would give rea- 
son to suppose there might be some truth in the rumour that 
she had grounded, in which case her destruction by means of 
shot would have been rendered certain. 

The prevalent opinion that the Intrepid was boarded by one 
or more of the gun-boats that lay near the entrance, would 
seem to have been entertained without sufficient proof. These 
vessels lay some distance within the spot where the ketch blew 
up, and it was not probable that they would have advanced to 
meet a vessel entering the harbpur ; for did they suppose her 
a friend, there would have been no motive ; and did they sup- 
pose her an enemy, they would have been much more likely 
to avoid her. So shy, indeed, had the Tripolitans become, 
after the burning of the Philadelphia, and the boarding of their 
boats, that it was found extremely difficult to get their small 
vessels within the range of musket-balls. Captain Somers 
was known to have felt no apprehensions of being boarded by 
these three boats ; for, when cautioned by his friend Decatur 
on that head, his answer was, " they will be more likely to 
cut and run." In this opinion that cool and observant officer 
was probably right. Had there been any vessel near the In- 
trepid when she blew up, the light of the explosion would have 
permitted her also to be seen ; some portions of her wreck 
would have been visible next day ; and her masts and sails 
would probably have been flying in the air, as well as those 
of the ketch. 

But the fact that only thirteen bodies are spoken of in the 
private journal of Captain Bainbridge, is almost conclusive 
on the subject that no Tripolitan vessel was blown up on this 
occasion. This entry was made at the time, and before the 
nature of the expedition, or the number of those who had been 
sent in the ketch, was known to the Americans in Tripoli. The 
thirteen bodies account exactly for all on board ; and as they 
came ashore in a most mutilated state, without clothes, in some 
instances without legs, arms, or heads, it was impossible to 
say whether they were the mangled remains of friends or 
enemies. Had a Tripolitan blown up in company, there must 



214 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

have been many more bodies in the same state, instead of the 
precise number mentioned, and Captain Bainbridge would have 
been as likely to be taken to see a dead Turk, as to see a dead 
American. 

The missing gun-boat, of Avhich Commodore Preble speaks 
in his report, may have been sunk by a falling shell ; she may 
have been shattered and hauled into the galley-mole, out of 
sight ; or, she may have removed in the darkness, and been 
confounded next morning with others of the flotilla. Observa- 
tions made, by means of glasses, in a crowded port, at a dis- 
tance of two or three miles, are liable to many errors. In 
short, it would seem to be the better opinion, that, from some 
untoward circumstance, the Intrepid exploded at a point where 
she did little or no injury to the enemy.* 

One of three things seems to be highly probable, concerning 
this long-disputed point. The ketch has either exploded by 
means of the enemy's shot, than which, nothing was easier in 
the situation where she lay ; the men have accidentally fired 
the magazine, while preparing to light the splinters below ; or 
it has been done intentionally, in consequence of the desperate 
condition to which the party was reduced, by the destruction 
caused by grape. Of the three, after weighing all the circum- 
stances, it is natural to believe that the first was the most pro- 
bable, as it was certainly easier to cause a vessel like the 

* The entry in the private journal of Captain Bainbridge, is as follows : 
" Was informed that the explosion that we heard last night, proceeded 
from a vessel (which the Americans attempted to send into the harbour,) 
blowing up ; which unfortunate scheme did no damage whatever to the 
Tripolitans ; nor did it even appear to heave them into confusion." "On 

the 8th, by the bashaw's permission, with Lieutenant , went to the 

beach of the harbour, and there saw six persons in a most mangled and 
burnt condition, lying on the shore ; whom we supposed to have been part 
of the unfortunate crew of the fire-vessel, the bottom of which grounded 
on the north side of the rocks near the round battery. Two of these dis- 
tressed-looking objects were fished out of the wreck. From the whole of 
them being so much disfigured, it was impossible to recognise any known 
feature to us, or even to distinguish an officer from a seaman. Mr. Cowdery, 
who accompanied us, informed me that he saw six others yesterday, on 
the shore to the southward, which were supposed to have come from the 
same vessel. He also informed me that an American six-oared boat, 
with one man in her, was found drifted on the beach to the westward." 

On the subject of Commodore Preble's impressions of the fate of the 
Intrepid, it may be well to say, that the Constitution left Tripoli soon 
after the ketch was blown up, and that his letter was dated at Malta, Sep- 
tember 18th. Owing to this circumstance, he must necessarily have been 
ignorant of facts that were subsequently ascertained. 



1304.] NAVAL HISTORY. 215 

Intrepid, with a hundred barrels of loose powder in her maga- 
zine, to explode by means of shot, than to cause a vessel like 
No. 8, which is known to have been blown up, in this manner, in 
the action of the 7th of August. As regards the grape-shot 
wounds, it will be seen that Captain Bainbridge is silent. 

A sad and solemn mystery, after all our conjectures, must 
For ever veil the fate of those fearless officers and their hardy 
followers. In whatever light we view the affair, they were the 
victims of that self-devotion which causes the seaman and sol- 
dier to hold his life in his hand, when the honour or interest of 
his country demands the sacrifice. The name of Somers has 
passed into a battle-cry, in the American marine, while those 
of Wadsworth and Israel are associated with all that can en- 
noble intrepidity, coolness, and daring. 

The war, in one sense, terminated with this scene of sublime 
destruction. Commodore Preble had consumed so much of 
his powder, in the previous attacks, that it was no longer in his 
power to cannonade ; and the season was fast getting to be 
dangerous to remain on that exposed coast. The guns, mor- 
tars, shells, &c, were taken out of the small vessels, on ac- 
count of the appearance of the weather, the day after the loss 
of the Intrepid ; and on the 7th, the John Adams, Siren, Nau- 
tilus, Enterprise, and Scourge, were directed to take the bom- 
bards and gun-boats in tow, and to proceed to Syracuse ; while 
the Constitution, with the Argus and Vixen in company, main- 
tained the blockade. It is not known that another shot was 
fired at Tripoli. 

Three days later, or on the 10th of September, 1804, the Pre- 
sident 44, wearing the broad pennant of Commodore Barron, 
hove in sight, with the Constellation 38, Captain Campbell, in 
company, when the command was regularly transferred to the 
former officer. On the 12th, two sail were cut off, while at- 
tempting to enter Tripoli loaded with wheat. On the 17th, the 
Constitution reached Malta, with the two prizes ; and subse- 
quently, Commodore Preble went to Syracuse in the Argus. 
At a later day, he came home in the John Adams, where he 
arrived on the 26th of February, 1805. In the mean time, 
Captain Decatur proceeded to Malta and took command of the 
Constitution, which was the first frigate this celebrated officer 
ever had under his orders. 

The country fully appreciated the services of Commodore 
Preble. He had united caution and daring in a way to denote 
the highest military qualities ; and his success in general, had 



216 NAVAL HISTORY. [1804. 

been in proportion. The attack of the Intrepid, the only ma- 
terial failure in any of his enterprises, was well arranged, and 
had it succeeded, it would probably have produced peace in 
twenty-four hours. As it was, the bashaw was well enough 
disposed to treat, though he seems to have entered into some 
calculations in the way of money, that induced him to hope 
the Americans would still reduce their policy to the level of 
his own, and prefer paying ransom to maintaining cruisers so 
far from home. Commodore Preble, and all the officers and 
men under his orders, received the thanks of Congress, and a 
gold medal was bestowed on the former. By the same reso- 
lution, Congress expressed the sympathy of the nation in be- 
half of the relatives of Captain Richard Somers, Lieutenants 
Henry Wadsworth, James Decatur, James R. Caldwell, and 
Joseph Israel, and Mr. John Sword Dorsey, midshipman ; the 
officers killed off Tripoli. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

The squadron left in the Mediterranean, under the orders 
of Commodore Barron, after the departure of Commodore 
Preble, was much the strongest force that the country had then 
assembled in that sea. It consisted of the following vessels, 
viz. : 

President 44, Capt. Cox ; Com. Barron. 

Constitution 44, " Decatur. 

Congress 38, " Rodgers. 

Constellation 38, " Campbell. 

Essex 32, " J. Barron. 

Siren 16, " Stewart. 

Argus 16, " Hull. 

Vixen 12, " Smith. 

Enterprise 12, Lieut. Com. Robinson. 

Nautilus 12, " " Dent. 

The blockade of Tripoli was maintained by different vessels 
during the bad season of 1804-5 ; but no attack was attempted, 
although preparations were made to renew the war in the 
spring. One of the first measures of Commodore Preble, on 
reaching America, was to urge upon the government the ne- 
cessity of building suitable bomb-ketches, and a few gun-boats 



1804.] NAVAL HISTORY. 217 

fitted to cannonade a place like Tripoli. His advice was fol- 
lowed, the vessels being immediately laid down ; but it being 
found impossible to have the ketches ready in time, the two 
vessels before mentioned, were purchased, strengthened, and 
equipped as bombards. 

In November, Captain Rodgers, as the senior officer, was 
put in command of the Constitution, while Captain Decatur 
was transferred to the Congress. The winter and spring 
passed in this manner, the blockade being maintained with 
vigour, most of the time, though no event worthy of note oc- 
curred off the port. While matters remained in this state with 
the ships, a movement by land was in the course of execution, 
that must now be recorded, as it is intimately connected with 
the history of the war. 

It has been said already, that Jussuf Caramalli, the reigning 
pacha, or bashaw of Tripoli, was a usurper, having deposed 
his elder brother Hamet, in order to obtain the throne. The 
latter had escaped from the regency, and, after passing a wan- 
dering life, he had taken refuge among the Mamelukes of 
Egypt. It had often been suggested to the American agents, 
that the deposed prince might be made useful in carrying on 
the war against the usurper ; and at different times, several 
projects had been entertained to that effect, though never with 
any results. At length, Mr. Eaton, the consul at Tunis, who 
had been a captain in the army, interested himself in the en- 
terprise ,• and coming to America, he so far prevailed on the 
government to lend itself to his views, as to obtain a species 
of indirect support. Commodore Barron was directed to co- 
operate with Mr. Eaton, as far as he might deem it discreet. 

When the new squadron arrived out, it was accordingly as- 
certained where the ex-bashaw was to be found, and Mr. Ea- 
ton at once commenced his operations. Two or three days 
after Commodore Barron had assumed the command before 
Tripoli, he sent the Argus 16, Captain Hull, with that gentle- 
man to Alexandria, where he arrived on the 26th of Novem- 
ber. On the 29th, Mr. Eaton, accompanied by Lieutenant 
O'Bannon, of the marines, and Messrs. Mann and Danielson, 
two midshipmen of the squadron, proceeded to Rosetta, and 
thence to Cairo. The viceroy of Egypt received them with 
favour, and permission was obtained for the prince of Tripoli 
to pass out of the country unmolested, though he had been 
fighting against the government, with the discontented Mame- 
lukes. 

19 



218 NAVAL HISTORY. [1805. 

As soon as Hamet Caramalli received the proposals of Mr. 
Eaton, he separated himself from the Mamelukes, attended by 
about forty followers, and repaired to a point twelve leagues 
to the westward of the old port of Alexandria. Here he was 
soon joined by Mr. Eaton, at the head of a small troop of ad- 
venturers, whom he had obtained in Egypt. This party was 
composed of all nations, though Mr. Eaton expressed his be- 
lief, at the time, that had he possessed the means of subsist- 
ence, he might have marched a body of 30,000 men against 
Tripoli, the reigning bashaw having forced so many of his 
subjects into banishment. Soon after the junction agreed 
upon, Mr. Eaton, who now assumed the title of general, 
marched in the direction of Derne, taking the route across the 
Desert of Barca. This was early in 1805. 

The Argus had returned to Malta for orders and stores, and 
on the 2d of April, she re-appeared off Bomba, with the Hor- 
net 10, Lieutenant Commandant Evans, in company. Cruis- 
ing on this coast a few days, without obtaining any intelligence 
of General Eaton and the bashaw, Captain Hull steered to the 
westward, and, a few leagues to the eastward of Derne, he 
fell in with the Nautilus, Lieutenant Commandant Dent. On 
communicating with this vessel, which was lying close in with 
the shore, Captain Hull ascertained that the expedition was on 
the coast, and that it waited only for the arms and supplies 
that had been brought, to attack Derne, from which town it 
was but a league distant. A field-piece was landed, together 
with some stores and muskets, and a few marines appear to 
have been put under the orders of Mr. O'Bannon, of the corps, 
when the vessels took their stations to aid in the attack. 

It was 2, P. M., on the 27th of April, 1805, that this assault, 
so novel for Amei'icans to be engaged in, in the other hemi- 
sphere, was commenced. The Hornet, Lieutenant Command- 
ant Evans, having run close in, and anchored With springs on 
her cables, within pistol-shot of a battery of eight guns, opened 
her fire. The Nautilus lay at a little distance to the eastward, 
and the Argus still further in the same direction, the two latter 
firing on the town and battery. In about an hour, the enemy 
were driven from the work, when all the vessels directed their 
guns at the beach, to clear the way for the advance of the 
party on shore. The enemy made an irregular- but spirited 
defence, keeping up a heavy fire of musketry, as the assail- 
ants advanced, from behind houses and walls. At half-past 3, 
however, Lieutenant O'Bannon and Mr. Mann stormed the 



1805.] NAVAL HISTORY. 219 

principal work, hauling down the Tripolitan ensign, and, for 
the first time in the history of the country, hoisting that of 
the republic on a fortress of the old world. The enemy were 
driven out of this work with so much precipitation, that they 
left its guns loaded, and even primed. The cannon were im- 
mediately turned upon the town, and Hamet Caramalli having 
made a lodgment on the other side, so as to bring the enemy 
between two fires, the place submitted. At 4 o'clock, the boats 
of the vessels landed with ammunition for the guns and to 
bring off the wounded, Derne being completely in possession 
of the assailants. 

In this affair, only 14 of the assailants were killed and 
wounded, General Eaton being among the latter. The attack 
was made by about 1200 men, while the place was supposed 
to be defended by three or four thousand. One or two at- 
tempts were made by the Tripolitans, to regain possession, but 
they were easily repulsed, and, on one occasion, with some 
loss. The deposed bashaw remained in possession of the 
town, and his authority was partially recognised in the pro- 
vince. General Eaton now earnestly pressed Commodore Bar- 
ron for further supplies and reinforcements, with a view to 
march on Tripoli ; but they were denied, on the ground that 
Hamet Caramalli was in possession of the second province of 
the regency, and if he had the influence that he pretended to 
possess, he ought to be able to effect his object by means of 
the ordinary co-operation of the squadron. 

On the 22d of May Commodore Barron transferred the com- 
mand, on account of ill health. The entire force under this 
new disposition, when the vessels known to be about to sail 
should arrive, would be as follows : 

Constitution. . . .44, Com. Rodgers. 

President 44, Capt. Cox. 

Constellation ... 38, " Campbell. 

Congress 38, " Decatur. 

Essex 32, " J. Barron. 

John Adams . . . 28, " Chauncey. 

Siren 16, " Stewart. 

Argus 16, " Hull. 

Vixen 12, " Smith. 

Nautilus 12, Lieut. Com. Dent. 

Enterprise 12, " " Robinson. 

Hornet 12, " " Evans. 



220 

Bombs 



NAVAL HISTORY. 

Vengeance Lieut. Com. Lewis. 

Spitfire " M'Niell. 



[1805. 



Gun-boats. 



No. 



2, 

3, 

4, 

5, 

6 

8, 

9, 

10 

11 

12, 



, 1 gun, " Izard. 

,2 " " Maxwell. 

,2 " " J. D. Henley. 



Harrison. 

Lawrence. 

Harraden. 

Elbert. 

Cai'ter. 



Shortly after assuming the command, Commodore Rodgers 
transferred Captain J. Barron from the Essex 32 to the 
President 44, giving the former ship to Captain Cox, who was 
only a master and commander. 

Negotiations for peace now commenced in earnest, Mr. 
Lear having arrived off Tripoli, for that purpose, in the Essex, 
Captain Barron. After the usual intrigues, delays, and pre- 
varications, a treaty was signed on the 3d of June, 1805. By 
this treaty, no tribute was to be paid in future, but $60,000 
were given by America, for the ransom of the remaining 
prisonei's, after exchanging the Tripolitans in her power, man 
for man. 

Thus terminated the war with Tripoli, after an existence of 
four years. It is probable that the United States would have 
retained in service some officers, and would have kept up a 
small force, had not this contest occurred ; but its influence on 
the fortunes and character of the navy is incalculable. It 
saved the first, in a degree at least, and it may be said to have 
formed the last. 



1805.] NAVAL HISTORY. 221 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The business at Tripoli was no sooner completed, than Com- 
modore Rodgers sailed with thirteen vessels, gun-boats includ- 
ed, and anchored in Tunis Bay on the 1st of August. This 
movement was made in consequence of a dispute concerning 
a xebeck captured by ihe Constitution, for endeavouring to vio- 
late the recent blockade in company with her prizes. As soon 
as the consul had repaired on board and communicated the 
state of things in the regency, a council of war was called. 
The result was a letter to the Bey, demanding to know if a 
declaration made to the consul, in which he had said that the 
appearance of the American squadron off his port would be 
considered as the commencement of hostilities, was to be taken 
literally or not. In this letter the Bey was given to under- 
stand, in the plainest manner, that hostilities would commence 
on the part of the Americans, within thirty-six hours, should 
he decline answering, or neglect the application. 

The Bey, accustomed to regard the Americans as tributa- 
ries, had been seeking a cause for war, when he was suddenly 
met by this high tone on the part of those whom he had hither- 
to found so much disposed to temporise. At first he appeared 
to place no faith in the demonstration, and the required an- 
swer was not sent. Commodore Rodgers, in consequence, 
directed Captain Decatur to land, to demand an audience of 
the Bey, and to obtain an unequivocal solution of the question 
of peace or war. 

It is probable that the Bey regarded this mission as one of a 
doubtful nature, also ; for he refused to receive Captain Deca- 
tur in the character in which he had been sent. That spirited 
officer, little accustomed to temporising, declined being admit- 
ted in any other. As soon as the intentions of both parties 
had been explained, Captain Decatur returned on board, when 
" the royal breast " of the Bey " appeared to be panic-struck." 
A letter was sent to the commodore, signed by the pacha him- 
self, in which he expressed a desire to treat, and using the 
most pacific language. Shortly after he announced a wish to 
send a minister to Washington. This moderated tone put an 
end to the threatened hostilities, and after a negotiation that 
19* 



222 NAVAL HISTORY. [1805. 

lasted nearly a month, the affair was arranged with the re- 
gency, to the satisfaction of one of the parties at least. The 
xebeck was not given up. In September, a Tunisian ambas-_ 
sador embarked in the Congress 38, Captain Decatur, and in 
due time he was landed at Washington. 

Commodore Rodgers remained in Tunis Bay more than a 
month, literally negotiating under the muzzles of his guns, and 
the result proved the wisdom of the course he had taken. The 
navy, the ablest of all negotiators in such matters, had com- 
pletely reversed the ancient order of things ; for, instead of an 
American agent's being compelled to solicit the restoration of 
prizes, illegally taken, in Africa, an African agent was now 
soliciting the restoration of prizes legally captured, in America. 
At a later day, the xebeck and her prizes were given up, as 
of no moment ; but when the Tunisian minister added a de- 
mand for tribute, agreeably to former usage, he met with an 
explicit denial. After a short residence, he returned to his 
master with the latter answer, but the Bey did not see fit to 
take any steps in consequence. The impression made by the 
attacks on Tripoli, and by the appearance of the American 
squadron before his own town, would seem to have been last- 
ing. 

After the settlement of the dispute with Tunis, the vessels 
in the Mediterranean were gradually withdi'awn, though it was 
still deemed necessary to keep a small squadron in that sea. 
The government also became better apprised of the nature of 
the force that was required, in carrying on a war with the 
Barbary states, and several new vessels were put into the water 
about this time, among which were two regularly constructed 
bombards, the Etna and the Vesuvius. Two sloops of war, 
of the most approved models, were also built, and became ac- 
tive cruisers on the peace establishment. These vessels were 
the Wasp 18, and the Hornet 18, the former being a ship and 
the latter a brig. 

The condition of the navy may be said to have been nega- 
tive at the period of which we are now writing ; for, while all 
who reflected seriously on the subject, felt the necessity of 
greatly increasing this branch of the national defence, nothing 
efficient was attempted, or, apparently, contemplated. Ships 
of the line, without which it would be impossible to prevent 
any of even the secondary maritime states of Europe from 
blockading the ports of the country, were now scarcely men- 
tioned, and the materials that had been collected for that ob- 



1806.] NAVAL HISTORY. 223 

ject in 1800, were rapidly disappearing for the purposes of 
repairs and re-constructions. It is, indeed, difficult to imagine 
a policy as short-sighted and feeble, as that pursued by Con- 
gress at this particular juncture. With political relations that 
were never free from the appearances of hostilities, a trade 
that covered all the seas of the known world, and an experi- 
ence that was replete with lessons on the necessity of repelling 
outrages by force, this great interest was treated with a neglect 
that approached fatuity. To add to this oversight, and to in- 
crease the despondency of the service, as well as of all those 
whose views extended to the future necessities of the country, 
the government appears to have adopted a policy, in connexion 
with the defence of the harbours, bays, and sounds" of the coast, 
that was singularly adapted to breaking down the high tone 
that the navy had acquired in its recent experience. This 
" plan," which has been generally known as the " gun-boat 
policy," originated as far back as the year 1803, though it did 
not become of sufficient moment to be particularly noticed until 
the time at which we are now arrived, in the regular order of 
events. 

The gun-boats, at first, were well received in the service, 
since they gave enterprising young officers commands ; and the 
vessels originally constructed, were of an equipment, size and 
force, which in a measure removed the objections that young 
sea-officers would be apt to urge against serving in them. At 
the close of the year 1806, the President announced to Con- 
gress that the gun-boats already authorised by a law of April 
of the same year, 50 in number, were so far advanced as to 
put it in the power of the government to employ them all, the 
succeeding season ; and the message contained a recommenda- 
tion to extend the system. 

An event soon occurred that not only stimulated this policy, 
but which induced the government to resort to new measures 
to protect the country, some of which were as questionable, as 
they were novel. A few ships had been kept in the Mediter- 
ranean, as stated ; and it is worthy of being noted, that, with a 
commerce that, in 1807, employed 1,200,000 tons of shipping, 
this was the only foreign station on which an American cruis- 
er was ever seen ! Neither was there any proper home squad- 
ron, notwithstanding the constant complaints that were made 
of the wrongs inflicted by English and French cruisers, pai*- 
ticularly the former, at the very mouths of the harbours of the 
country. 



224 NAVAL HISTORY. [1806. 

On the 25th of April, 1806, the British ship Leander 50, 
Captain Whitby, in endeavouring to cut off a small coaster, 
that was running for Sandy Hook, fired a shot into her, which 
killed one of her people. This outrage occurred quite near 
the shore, and it excited a strong feeling of indignation, in a 
portion of the country, at least. But, unfortunately, party 
spirit had, at that period, taken the worst, most dangerous, and 
least creditable form, in which it can exist in any free country. 
By neglecting to place the republic in an attitude to command 
respect, the government had been compelled to appeal to argu- 
ments and principles, in those cases in which an appeal to 
force is the only preservative of national rights, and, in so do- 
ing, it opened the door to the admission of sophisms, counter- 
arguments and discussions, that, in the end, effectually arrayed 
one-half of the community against the other, and this too, on 
matters in which foreign nations were the real parties on one 
side, and the common country on the other. In a word, the 
great mistake was made of admitting of controversy concerning 
interests that all wise governments hold to be beyond dispute. 

While the feelings, policy, and preparations of the United 
States were in the condition just mentioned, the Chesapeake 
38, was put in commission, with a view of sending her to the 
Mediterranean, as the relief-ship, the time of the people of the 
Constitution 44, the only frigate left on that station, being 
nearly up. Captain Charles Gordon, the youngest master- 
commandant on the list, was attached to the Chesapeake as 
her captain, and Captain James Barron was selected to hoist a 
broad pennant in her, as commander of the squadron. 

The ship remained at Washington, taking in her masts and 
stores, and receiving officers and men, until the close of the 
spring. During this time the English minister informed the 
government that three deserters from his B. M. ship Melampus, 
had enlisted among the crew of the Chesapeake, and he re- 
quested that they might be given up. Although the right to 
demand deserters is not recognised by the laws of nations, 
there is usually a disposition between friendly governments to 
aid each other in securing these delinquents, especially when 
it can be done under circumstances that produce no direct in- 
jury ; and the matter was referred by the navy department, 
to Commodore Barron, for investigation. The inquiry appears 
to have been made in a proper temper, and with a sincere wish 
to dismiss the men, should they actually prove to be what was 
represented, though it might be questioned whether the Presi- 



1807.] NAVAL HISTORY. 225 

dent himself legally possessed any power to give them up to 
their own officers. Commodore Barron directed Captain Gor- 
don to inquire into the matter with care, and to make his re- 
port. It was ascertained that the three men were actually 
deserters from the ship named, but they all claimed to be im- 
pressed Americans, who had availed themselves of the first 
opportunity that offered on landing in their native country, to 
make their escape from illegal and unjust detention. One of 
these men was said to be a native of the Eastern Shore, a part 
of the country in which Captain Gordon was born ; and that 
officer, after a careful examination, appeal's to have been sa- 
tisfied with the truth of his account. Another was a coloured 
man, and there was hardly a doubt of the truth of his allega- 
tions ; while the case of the third seaman, though in part es- 
tablished, was not entirely clear. Under the circumstances, 
however, a seaman found in the country, and demanding the 
protection of its laws as a native, could not be given up to a 
service that was known constantly to violate the rights of in- 
dividuals, on the naked demand of that service, and in the 
absence of all affirmative proof of its not having abused its 
power. The English minister received the report, and he ap- 
pears to have been satisfied, as no more was said on the subject. 

About the beginning of June, the Chesapeake sailed from 
Washington to Norfolk. At this time, there were but twelve 
guns on board ; and, as it is customary for all vessels 
of war to fire a salute in passing Mount Vernon, it was dis- 
covered, on that occasion, that some of the equipments were 
imperfect. Orders were issued by Captain Gordon in conse- 
quence, though the circumstance probably excited less atten- 
tion than would otherwise have been the case, on account of 
the unfinished state of the vessel. The Chesapeake arrived in 
Hampton Roads on the 4th of June ; and on the 6th, Commo- 
dore Barron paid her a short visit. 

Between the 6th and the 19th of June, the remainder of the 
guns and stores were received on board the Chesapeake, her 
crew was completed to about 375 souls, and Captain Gordon 
reported her to Commodore Barron as ready for sea. Up to 
the 6th of June, the people had not been quartered at all, and 
between that day and the time of sailing, they had been at 
quarters but three times ; on neither of which occasions were 
the guns exercised. 

About 8 A. M., June 22d, the Chesapeake got under way, 
from Hampton Roads, bound to the Mediterranean. At that 



226 NAVAL HISTORY. [1807. 

early day, the armament of the ship consisted of 28 eighteen- 
pounders on her gun-deck, and of 12 carronades above, mak- 
ing a total of 40 guns. 

A squadron of British ships of war, varying constantly in 
numbers and vessels, had been watching some French frigates 
that lay at Annapolis several months. It was their practice to 
lie in Lynnhaven, or occasionally to cruise in the offing. On 
the 21st of June, this squadron had consisted of three vessels ; 
one of which was the Bellona 74, and another the Melampus 
38, the ship from which the three seamen already mentioned, 
had deserted. On the evening of the same day, a fourth ves- 
sel, which was afterwards ascertained to be the Leopard 50, 
Captain Humphreys, came in and anchored. The Leopard was 
a small two-decker, had a lower-deck battery of twenty-fours, 
and is said to have mounted 56 guns. When the Chesapeake 
weighed, up at Hampton Roads, the Leopard lifted her anchor, 
and preceded the American frigate to sea. The wind was 
light, at northwest ; and as the Leopard got an offing, she dis- 
appeared behind Cape Henry. 

A little after 12 o'clock, the Chesapeake was up with the 
cape, when the wind shifted to the southward and eastward. 
As she opened the offing, the Leopard was seen a few miles to 
windward, heading to the eastward, with apparently very little 
air. She soon took the new wind, however, when both ships 
made stretches to get off the land, there being a good working 
breeze and perfectly smooth water. The Leopard tacked with 
the Chesapeake, though the latter ship appears to have closed 
with her, the distance between the two vessels gradually less- 
ening. By some accounts, the English ship shortened sail in 
order to allow this. Up to this moment, however, it is the bet- 
ter opinion, that there was nothing unusual or suspicious in her 
movements. The British cruisers were in the habit of stand- 
ing out in this manner, and the Leopard obtained the weather 
gage altogether by the shift of wind. 

About 3 o'clock, both vessels having an offing of some six 
or eight miles, the Chesapeake tacked to the eastward again, 
and the Leopard, then about a mile to windward, wore round, 
and came down upon her weather quarter, when she hailed, in- 
forming Commodore Barron that she had despatches for him. 
Commodore Barron answered that he would heave-to, and re- 
ceive a boat. Both vessels now came to, the Chesapeake by 
laying her main-topsail to the mast, while the accounts appear 
uncertain, whether the Leopard backed her forward or her after 



1807.] NAVAL HISTORY. 227 

sails. At this time, it was observed by some of the officers on 
board the Chesapeake, that the English ship had her lower 
ports triced up, and the tompions out of her guns. It does 
not appear that the latter fact, however, the only one of mo- 
ment, was reported to either Captain Gordon or Commodore 
Barron. 

In a few minutes, a boat from the Leopard came alongside 
of the Chesapeake, and her officer was shown into the cabin, 
where he was received by Commodore Barron. Here the Eng- 
lish lieutenant produced an order, signed by Vice-Admiral 
Berkley, dated Halifax, June 1st, and addressed to all the cap- 
tains of the ships under his command, directing them, should 
they fall in with the Chesapeake out of the waters of the Uni- 
ted States, and at sea, to show her commander this order ; to 
" require to seai'ch for deserters," and " to proceed and search 
for the same ;" offering at the same time, to allow of a similar 
search on board their own vessels. Accompanying this order, 
was a note from the commander of the Leopard, addressed to 
the commander of the Chesapeake, referring to the order of the 
vice-admiral, and expressing a hope " that every circumstance 
respecting them (the deserters) may be adjusted in a manner 
that the harmony subsisting between the two countries may 
remain undisturbed.'' To this note, Commodore Barron re- 
turned an answer, stating that he knew of no such deserters as 
described. He added, that his recruiting officers had been 
particularly instructed by the government not to enter any de- 
serters from the English ships, and that his orders would not 
allow him to suffer his people to be mustered by any officers 
but their own. 

By referring to this correspondence, which has been often 
printed, it will be seen that neither the order of Vice-Admi- 
ral Berkley, the note of Captain Humphreys, nor the an- 
swer of Commodore Barron, was perfectly explicit on the 
important points, of whether force would be used, if the al- 
leged deserters were not given up, or whether they would be 
refused, could it be shown, by any other means than that of 
being mustered by foreign officers, that the men required were 
among the Chesapeake's crew. In a word, the order and note 
were vague and general ; and the answer, as far as it went, the 
most direct document of the three, appears to have been framed 
in a similar spirit. The British officer was ordered to " re- 
quire" of the captain of the Chesapeake, " to search his ship 
for deserters," &c, and " to proceed and search for the same," 



228 NAVAL HISTORY. [1807. 

&c. Nothing is said of compelling a search ; and though the 
term " require" was a strong one, the whole phraseology of the 
order was such as might very well raise doubts, under the pe- 
culiar circumstances, how far a party, who made professions 
of a desire to preserve the harmony of the two nations, might 
feel disposed to violate public law, in order to enforce its ob- 
ject. The note of Captain Humphreys was just as explicit, 
and just as vague as the order, being a mere echo of its spirit. 
Commodore Barron very clearly refused to permit a British 
officer to search for a deserter, while he did not touch the gene- 
ral principle, or what he might do, could it be shown by less 
objectionable means, that there was a British deserter, of the 
sort mentioned in the order, on board the Chesapeake, and the 
demand on the part of the English officers, to search in person, 
was abandoned. Had there even existed a clause in the treaty 
between England and America, rendering it obligatory on the 
two nations to deliver up each other's deserters, the inquisition 
of Vice-Admiral Berkley, taken as an order to search in per- 
son, would have so far exceeded the probable construction of 
reason, as to justify an officer in supposing that nothing be- 
yond a little well-managed intimidation was intended, since 
nations do not usually permit their treaties to be enforced by 
any but their own agents. While there was something very 
equivocal, beyond doubt, in the whole procedure of the Bri- 
tish, it was so high-handed a measure to commence a demand 
for deserters, by insisting on a right to search a foreign vessel 
of war in person for them, that it would be very difficult to be- 
lieve any design to enforce a demand so utterly out of the regu- 
lar course of things, could be seriously entertained. It ought 
to be added, that the deserters alluded to in the order of Vice- 
Admiral Berkley, were not those from the Melampus, already 
spoken of, but men from other ships, who were supposed to 
have entered on board the Chesapeake at a much later day. 

The English lieutenant was on board the Chesapeake some 
time ; the accounts of the length of his. visit varying from 15 
to 45 minutes. It is probable he was fully half an hour in the 
cabin. His stay appears to have been long enough to excite 
uneasiness on board his own ship ; for, while Commodore Barron 
was deliberating on the course he ought to pursue, information 
was sent below that a signal was flying on board the Leopard, 
which her officer immediately declared to be an order for the 
return of the boat. Soon after this signal was shown, the 
answer of Commodore Barron was delivered. 



1807.1 NAVAL HISTORY. 229 

Commodore Barron now sent for Captain Gordon, and told 
him to get the gun- deck clear, a duty that had been commenced 
an hour or two before, without reference to the Leopard. He 
then went on deck. Soon after the English officer had passed 
out of the ship into his own boat, by the larboard, or lee-gang- 
way, Commodore Barron appeared in the starboard, or weather- 
gangway, to examine the Leopard. Here it would seem that 
the latter was forcibly struck with the appearance of prepara- 
tion on board the English ship, and the idea that a resort 
might be had to force began to impress him seriously. He 
issued an order to Captain Gordon, to hasten the work on the 
gun-deck, and to go to quarters. In consequence of the latter 
order, a few taps were beaten on the drum, but that instrument 
was stopped by directions of Commodore Barron, and instruc- 
tions were given to get the people to their quarters with as 
little noise and parade as possible, in order to gain time, if the 
Leopard really meditated hostilities. 

It is not easy to imagine a vessel of war in a more unfor- 
tunate situation, than that of the Chesapeake at this particular 
moment. With a ship of superior force within pistol-shot, on 
her weather-quarter, her guns trained, matches burning, people 
drilled, and every thing ready to commence a heavy fire, while 
she herself was littered and lumbered, with a crew that had not 
yet exercised her guns, and which had been only three times 
even mustered at their quarters. The business of coiling away 
her cables, which had lain on the gun-deck until after two 
o'clock, was still going on, while the cabin bulk-head, cabin 
furniture, and some temporary pantries were all standing aft. 
A good deal of the baggage of the passengers in the ship was 
also on the gun-deck. It would seem, however, that some of 
the lieutenants had regarded the movements of the Leopard 
with distrust from the beginning ; and the vessel being particu- 
larly well officered, these gentlemen soon made an active com- 
mencement towards getting the ship clear. The guns were all 
loaded and shotted, but on examination, it was found that there 
was a deficiency in rammers, wads, matches, gun-locks, and 
powder-horns. While things were in this awkward condition, 
Commodore Barron continued in the gangway examining the 
Leopard. The cutter of the latter was a few minutes in pulling 
back to that vessel, and as soon as the people were out of her, 
she was dropped astern, where most of the boats were towing, 
and the English ship hailed. Commodore Barron answered 
that he did not understand the hail, when the Leopard fired a 
20 



230 NAVAL HISTORY. [1807. 

shot ahead of the Chesapeake. In a few seconds this shot was 
followed by an entire broadside. By this discharge, in addi- 
tion to many injuries done the ship, Commodore Barron, who 
continued in the gangway, and his aid, Mr. Broom, were 
wounded. The Leopard was now hailed, and some answer 
was returned, but the noise and confusion rendered all attempts 
at a communication in this mode useless. 

Every exertion was making all the while, to get the bat- 
teries ready, and with the exception of the forward gun below, 
the port of which was still down on account of the anchor, it 
appears that one broadside might have been fired, had not the 
means of discharging the guns been absolutely wanting. For 
some time, there was no priming powder, and when an insuffi- 
cient quantity did finally arrive, there were no matches, locks, 
nor loggerheads. Some of the latter were brought from the 
galley, however, and they were applied to the priming, but 
were too cold to be of use. In the mean while, the Leopard, 
in an excellent position, and favoured by smooth water, was 
deliberately pouring in her whole fire upon an unresisting ship. 
This state of things lasted from twelve to eighteen minutes, 
when Commodore Barron, having repeatedly desired that one 
gun, at least, might be discharged, ordered the colours to be 
hauled down. Just as the ensign reached the tafFrail, one gun 
was fired from the second division of the ship.* 

The Chesapeake immediately sent a boat on board the 
Leopard, to say that the ship was at the disposal of the Eng- 
lish captain, when the latter directed his officers to muster the 
American crew. The three men claimed to be deserters from 
the Melampus, and one that had run from the Halifax sloop of 
war, were carried away. Commodore Barron now sent an- 
other note to Captain Humphreys, to state his readiness to give 
up his ship ; but the latter declining to take charge of her, a 
council of officers was called, and the Chesapeake returned to 
Hampton Roads the same evening. 

In this affair, the Leopard, of course, did not suffer at all. 
Not so with the Chesapeake, although the injuries she sus- 
tained, were probably less than might have been expected. 
The accounts of the duration of the firing, vary from seven to 
twenty minutes, though the majority of opinions place it at 

* This gun was discharged by means of a coal brought from the galley, 
which was applied by Lieutenant Allen, the officer of the division, with 
his fingers, after an unsuccessful attempt to make use of a loggerhead. 



1807.1 NAVAL HISTORY. 23 1 

about twelve. Three men were killed on the spot ; eight were 
badly, and ten were slightly wounded ; making a total of 
twenty-one casualties. The Leopard appears to have thrown 
the weight of her grape into the lower sails, the courses and 
fore-topmast stay-sail having been riddled with that description 
of shot. Twenty-one round shot struck the hull. All three 
of the lower masts of the American frigate were injured, 
and a good deal of rigging was cut ; still the impression 
left by the occurrence, went to convince the American service, 
that English fire was not so formidable as tradition and rumour 
had made it. 

The attack on the Chesapeake, and its results, created a 
strong and universal sensation in America. At first, as ever 
happens while natural feeling and national sentiment are unin- 
fluenced by calculations of policy, there was but one voice of 
indignation and resentment, though, in a short time, the fiend 
of party lifted his head, and persons were not wanting who 
presumed to justify the course taken by the English vice-ad- 
miral. Notwithstanding these exceptions, the general effect 
was certainly very adverse to the British cause in America ; 
and the injury was v not fairly forgotten, until it had been ef- 
faced from the public mind by many subsequent victories. 

Courts-martial were held on Commodore Barron, Captain 
Gordon, Captain Hall/of the marines, and the gunner of the 
ship. The first was distinctly acquitted of cowax'dice, but was 
found guilty of " neglecting, on the probability of an engage- 
ment, to clear his ship for action." The sentence was a sus- 
pension from pay and rank, for five years. Captain Gordon 
was found guilty of negligently performing some of his minor 
duties, and was privately reprimanded. Captain Hall received 
the same sentence, a little mitigated ; and the gunner was 
cashiered. 



232 NAVAL HISTORY. [1807. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Congress was convened on the 26th of October ; and, as 
soon as there had been time to deliberate on what had passed, 
the President, by his proclamation, interdicted all British ves- 
sels of war from entering the American waters. When the 
national legislature assembled, a proposition to increase the 
number of gun- boats was laid before it. Without a sufficient 
naval force to raise a blockade that should be sustained by 
three ships of the line ; with all the experience of the war of 
the Revolution fresh in their recollections ; and with the pros- 
pect of a speedy contest with a people that scarcely hesitated 
about closing the ports of the Union in a time of peace, the 
legislators of the day misdirected the resources of a great and 
growing country, by listening to this proposition, and ci-eating 
a species of force that, in its nature, is merely auxiliary to 
more powerful means, and which is as entirely unfitted to the 
moral character of the people, as it is to the natural formation 
of the coast. On the 18th of December, a law was passed 
authorising the construction of 188 gun-boats, in addition to 
those already built, which would raise the total number of ves- 
sels of this description in the navy to 257. This was the de- 
velopment of the much-condemned " gun-boat system," which, 
for a short time, threatened destruction to the pride, discipline, 
tone, and even morals, of the service. 

There can be no question, that, in certain circumstances, 
vessels of this sort may be particularly useful ; but these cir- 
cumstances are of rare occurrence, as they are almost always 
connected with attacks on towns and harbours. As the policy 
is now abandoned, it is unnecessary to point out the details by 
which it is rendered particularly unsuitable to this country, 
though there is one governing principle that may be mention- 
ed, which, of itself, demonstrates its unfitness. The American 
coast has an extent of near two thousand miles, and to protect 
it by means of gun-boats, even admitting the practicability of 
the method, would involve an expenditure sufficient to create 
a movable force in ships, that would not only answer all the 
same purposes of defence, but which would possess the addi- 
tional advantage of acting, at need, offensively. In other 



1809.] NAVAL HISTORY. 233 

words, it was entailing on the country the cost of an efficient 
marine, without enjoying its advantages. 

At the time when the laws of nations and the flag of the 
United States were outraged, in the manner related in the pre- 
ceding chapter, the government was empowered to employ no 
more than 1425 seamen, ordinary seamen and boys, in all the 
vessels of the navy, whether in commission or in ordinary. 
The administration felt that this number was insufficient for 
the common wants of the service, and early in 1808, the se- 
cretary asked for authority to raise 1272 additional men, to 
be put on board the gun-boats that were now ready to receive 
them. The necessary law, however, was withheld. 

The near approach of a war, that succeeded the attack of 
the Leopard, appears to have admonished the English govern- 
ment of the necessity of using some efficient means of settling 
the long-pending disputes between the two nations, and nego- 
tiations were carried on during the year 1808, in a temper that 
promised a pacific termination to the quarrel ; and, in strict con- 
formity with a practice, (it would be an abuse of terms to call 
it a policy,) that has long prevailed in the country, the time 
that should have been actively employed in preparations, was 
irreclaimably lost, in the idle expectation that they would not 
be needed. No act was passed, nor any appropriation made, 
either for the employment of more men, or for placing in com- 
mission any additional vessels, until the last ot January, 1809, 
when the President was directed to equip the United States 44, 
President 44, Essex 32, and John Adams 24 ; the latter ves- 
sel having been cut down to a sloop of war. By the same 
law, the navy was greatly increased in efficiency, as respects 
the officers and men, the President being authorised to appoint 
as many additional midshipmen as would make a total of 450, 
and to employ in all, 5025 seamen, ordinary seamen, and 
boys. By adding the remaining officers, and the marine corps, 
the whole service, could not have contained a total of less than 
7000 persons, when the act was carried into execution. 

The equipment of the ships just mentioned, and the active 
employment of all the small vessels of the service, probably 
saved the navy of the United States from a total disorganisa- 
tion. It was the means of withdrawing a large portion of the 
officers from the gun-boats, and of renewing that high tone 
and admirable discipline which had distinguished it at the close 
of the Tripolitan war. By this time, nearly all the midship- 
men who had been before Tripoli, were lieutenants ; and there 
20* 



234 NAVAL HISTORY. [1810. 

was already one instance in which an officer, who had enter- 
ed the navy as a midshipman, commanded the frigate in which 
he had first served.* 

In the course of the summer of 1808, too, it was thought 
prudent to make a commencement towards the employment 
of a force on the lakes ; England already possessing ships on 
Ontario and Erie. 

There being no especial law for such an object, advantage 
was taken of the discretionary powers granted to the President 
under the act for building gun-boats. A few officers were 
placed under the orders of Lieutenant M. T. Woolsey, and 
that gentleman was empowered to make contracts for the con- 
struction of three vessels, one of which was to be built on 
Lake Ontario, and the other two on Lake Champlain. The 
two vessels constructed on Lake Champlain were ordinary 
gun-boats, but that constructed on Lake Ontario was a regu- 
lar brig of war. The latter was of about two hundred and 
forty tons measurement, was pierced for sixteen guns, and 
when delivered by the contractors, in the spring of 1809, to 
the sea-officers ordered to receive her, she mounted 16 twenty- 
four pound carronades. In consequence of an arrangement 
that was made, about this time, with England, but which was 
not ratified in Europe, this vessel, which was called the Onei- 
da, was not equipped and sent upon the lake till the following 
year. 

This was a period of vacillating policy in both nations, 
England, at times, appearing disposed to arrange amicably the 
many different points that had arisen with America, and the 
latter country acting, at moments, as if it believed war to be 
impossible, while at others, it seemed to be in earnest with its 
preparations. Thus passed the years 1808, 1809, and 1810, 
the embargo having been raised, followed by a non-intercourse 
law with Great Britain, and succeeded by an absence of all 
restrictions. 

During this period of doubt, the vessels of the navy that 
were in commission, were principally employed on the coast, 
or they kept up the communications with the different diplo- 
matic agents in Europe, by carrying despatches. There is no 
question that these were important years to the service ; for, 
since the attack on the Chesapeake, the utmost vigilance pre- 
vailed, and every commander watched jealously for an oppor- 



* Captain Decatur. 



1811.] NAVAL HISTORY. 235 

tunity to wipe out the disgrace, real or imaginary, of that un- 
fortunate affair. No more vessels were sent to the Mediterra- 
nean, but the whole maritime force of the republic was kept 
at home. The country had now in active service the follow- 
ing vessels, viz : 



President 44, 

Constitution 44, 

United States 44, 

Essex 32, 

John Adams 20, 

Wasp 18, 



Hornet 18, 

Argus 16, 

Siren 16, 

Nautilus 12, 

Enterprise 12, 

Vixen 12. 



In addition to these cruisers, were a great number of gun- 
boats, which were principally commanded by sailing-masters, 
who had been selected from among the officers of merchant 
vessels. The Nautilus and Vixen had both been rigged into 
brigs ; the Enterprise soon after was altered in the same man- 
ner ; and an occasion to rebuild the Hornet occurring, she was 
converted into a ship, and pierced for two more guns, making 
twenty in all. Unhappily, the opportunity was lost of equip- 
ping a force that could prevent blockades. 

The English increased their cruisers on the American coast, 
in proportion to the Americans themselves, though their ves- 
sels no longer lay off the hai'bours, impressing men, and de- 
taining ships. It was seldom that a British cruiser was now 
seen near the land, the government probably cautioning its 
commanders to avoid unnecessary exhibitions of this sort, with 
a view to prevent collisions. Still they were numerous, cruised 
at no great distance, and by keeping up constant communica- 
tions between Bermuda and Halifax, may be said to have in- 
tercepted nearly every ship that passed from one hemisphere 
to the other. 

Such, in effect,' was the state of things in the spring of the 
year 1811, when information was received by the senior offi- 
cer of the navy afloat, Commodore Rodgers, that a man had 
been impressed from an American brig, at no great distance 
from Sandy Hook, by an English frigate that was supposed to 
be the Guerriere 38, Captain Dacres. The broad pennant of 
Commodore Rodgers was flying on board the President 44, 
Captain Ludlow, which ship was then anchored off Annapolis. 
Repairing on board his vessel, he got under way, with an in- 
tention of proceeding off New York to inquire into the facts, 
on the 10th of May ; passing the capes shortly after. 



236 NAVAL HISTORY. [1811. 

On the 16th of May, at noon, a sail was made from the 
President, which ship was then about six leagues from the 
land, to the southward of New York. It was soon perceived, 
by the squareness of his yards, and the symmetry of his sails, 
that the stranger was a vessel of war, and the American fri- 
gate stood for him, with an intention to get within hail. At 2 
the President set her broad pennant and ensign. The stran- 
ger now made several signals ; but finding they were not an- 
swered, he wore and stood to the southward. Although the 
President gained upon the chase, the wind lessened, and night 
set in before she could get near enough to distinguish her force. 
It was past 7 o'clock in the evening when the stranger took in 
his studding-sails, hauled up his courses, and came by the 
wind on the starboard tack. He now set an ensign at his gaff, 
but it was too dark to discover the nation. As he came to the 
wind, he necessarily showed his broadside, and was taken for 
a small frigate. 

The President continuing to stand down, the chase wore 
four several times, in order to prevent the American frigate 
from getting a position to windward. It was consequently 
near half-past 8 before Commodore Rodgers could bring-to, as 
he had desired, on the weather-bow of the stranger, or a little 
forward of his beam ; when, being within a hundred yards, he 
hailed, and demanded " what ship is that ?" No answer was 
given to this question ; but it was repeated, word for word, 
from the stranger. After a short pause the question was again 
put, when the stranger fired a gun, the shot from which cut 
away a breast-back-stay, and entered the main-mast. Com- 
modore Rodgers was on the point of ordering a shot to be 
returned, when a gun was discharged from the second division 
of the President. The stranger now fired three guns in quick 
succession, and after a short pause, the remainder of his broad- 
side and all his musketry. The President, as a matter of 
course, delivered her broadside in return. In a few minutes, 
however, it was perceived on board the American vessel, that 
they were engaged with an adversary so inferior as to render 
her resistance very feeble, and orders were sent to the different 
divisions to stop the fire. 

The guns of the President were soon silent ; when, to the 
surprise of all on board her, the stranger opened anew. The 
fire of the American frigate recommenced, but it was again 
stopped in the course of a very few minutes, in consequence 
of the crippled condition of her antagonist, who lay nearly 



1811.] NAVAL HISTORY. 237 

end on, and apparently unmanageable. The American now 
hailed again, and got an answer that her adversary was a 
British ship of war, though the name was inaudible, on ac- 
count of the wind, which had increased. Satisfied that his 
late opponent was disabled, and having no desire to effect more 
than had already been accomplished, Commodore Rodgers 
gave the name of his own ship, wore round, and running a 
short distance to leeward, he hauled by the wind again, with a 
view to remain nigh the English vessel during the night. The 
President kept lights displayed, in order to let her late antago- 
nist know her position, and wore several times to remain near 
her. 

When the day dawned, the English ship was discovered 
some distance to leeward, her drift in the night having been 
considerable. The President bore up under easy canvass, and 
running down to her, lowered a boat, and Mr. Creighton, the 
first lieutenant, was sent on board, with an offer of services. 
The stranger proved to be his Britannic majesty's ship Little 
Belt 18, Captain Bingham. The Little Belt was a vessel of 
twenty-two guns, but having a light spar-deck above, on which 
no guns were mounted, she had the external appearance of a 
small frigate. She had suffered severely by the fire of the 
President, and thirty-one of her people had been killed and 
wounded. As Captain Bingham declined receiving any assist- 
ance, the vessels parted, each making the best of her way to a 
port of her own nation. 

This occurrence gave rise to much angry discussion in Ame- 
rica, and widened the breach which already existed between 
the English and the American nations. The account given 
by Captain Bingham differed essentially from that of Commo- 
dore Rodgers, and official investigations were made on both 
sides. On that of the Americans a formal court of inquiry 
was held, and every sea-officer in the ship was examined, as 
well as a great many of the petty officers. The testimony 
was very clear, and it was in a great measure free from the 
discrepancies that usually distinguish the accounts of battles, 
whether by sea or land. The fact that the Little Belt fired 
the first gun was established by the oath of the officer who 
ordered the gun fired in return. This gentleman distinctly 
testified that he gave the command, under a standing order of 
the ship, and in consequence of having seen the flash and 
heard the report of the Little Belt's gun. He not only testi- 
fied that he heard the report of the gun, but that he also heard 



238 NAVAL HISTORY. 1811. 

the noise made by the shot which had entered the mast. Other 
officers and men corroborated this account, and in a way to 
render their evidence not only consistent with itself, but with 
probability. As the President was very fully officered, the 
number and respectability of the witnesses, put at rest all ca- 
villing- about the facts. 

It is believed that there was no proper court of inquiry held 
on the conduct of Captain Bingham, though affidavits of most 
of his officers were published. By that gentleman's official 
account, as it has been given to the world, as well as by the 
affidavits mentioned, it is affirmed that the President commenced 
the action by firing, not a single gun, but an entire broadside. 
He also intimated that the action lasted three quarters of an 
hour, and appeared desirous of leaving the impression that the 
President had sheered ofF. 

As between the two governments, the question was reduced to 
one of veracity. If the account of the American officer was true, 
that of the English officer was untrue ; and if the account of the 
English officer was true, that of the American officer was un- 
true. Each government seeming disposed to believe its own 
officer, no political consequences followed this rencontre. The 
President sustained little injury, no round shot, besides the one 
in her main-mast, and another in her fore-mast, having struck 
her ; and, of her people, one boy alone was slightly wounded 
by a musket-ball. The Little Belt, on the other hand, having 
suffered even out of proportion to the disparity of force between 
the vessels, the American government was satisfied with the 
punishment already inflicted on the assailants ; while the En- 
glish government could not well insist on reparation, without 
demanding that the American functionaries would not believe 
their own officer. After some communications on the subject, 
and an exchange of the testimony that had been given, nothing 
further appears to have been done, or contemplated, by either 
government. 



1811.] NAVAL HISTORY. 239 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

It has been seen that no consequences, beyond an increased 
alienation between the two countries, followed the rencontre 
between the President and Little Belt. 

Not long after the meeting between these two vessels, the 
United States 44, bearing the broad pennant of Commodore 
Decatur, fell in with the Eurydice and Atalanta, British ships, 
off New York, and, while the commanders were hailing, one 
of the seamen of the former vessel, in carelessly handling the 
lanyard of his lock, fired a gun. Happily both parties were 
cool and discreet, and proper explanations having been made, 
the English commander was entirely satisfied that no insult, or 
assault, was intended. 

Between the reduction in 1801, and the commencement of 
1812, a period of eleven eventful years, during which the na- 
tion was scarcely a day without suffering violation of its neu- 
tral rights, not a single frigate had been added to the navy ! 
The ships of the line authorised in 1799 were entirely aban- 
doned, and notwithstanding the critical relations of the country, 
the experience of the past, and so many years of commercial 
prosperity, the navy, in some respects, was in a worse situa- 
tion than after the sale of the ships in 1801. Of the thirteen 
frigates retained at that time, the Philadelphia 38, had been 
taken and destroyed, and the New York 36, General Green 
28, and Boston 28, had gone to decay, without repairs. Thus, 
in point of fact, though twelve ships of this class appear on the 
list of the day, but nine actually existed, for any practical pur- 
poses. The various vessels of inferior force, that have been 
already mentioned in this work, as constructed under different 
laws, had been added to the navy, while two or three tempo- 
rarily taken into the service were already sold. A few small 
schooners had been purchased. Navy-yards had been estab- 
lished at Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Washington, Gos- 
port, and Portsmouth, though they were still in their infancy, 
and very incomplete. One hundred and seventy gun-boats had 
also been built, and were distributed in the different ports of 
the country. 

While the navy on the whole, the gun-boats excepted, had 



240 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

rather lost than gained in physical force, since the reduction 
of 1801, it had improved immeasurably in discipline, tone, and 
in an esprit de corps. The little that had been lost, in these 
respects, through the service in gun-boats, was more than re- 
gained by the effect produced by the attack on the Chesapeake, 
and the constant state of excitement that prevailed with regard 
to English aggressions, during the few preceding years. The 
lists of captains, masters-commandant, and lieutenants were 
small, but filled with men trained to obedience, and, conse- 
quently, qualified to command. It is true, only one of the offi- 
cers of the revolution remained, at the head of the service ; and 
he was nearly superannuated by years and infirmities ; but 
those to whom they had imparted their traditions and spirit 
had succeeded them. Commodore Samuel Nicholson, who 
had been employed in the year 1776, even, as commander of 
the Dolphin 10, died at the head of the service at the close of 
the year 1811. The celebrated Preble had preceded him to 
the grave several years, and Commodore Murray alone re- 
mained of those officers who might be said to have belonged to 
the old school. Still, the new school was in no respect infe- 
rior ; and in some particulars, it was greatly the superior of 
that which had gone before it. The vessels, generally, were 
good ships of their respective classes, and the officers, as a 
body, were every way worthy to take charge of them. Se- 
veral of those who had been retained as midshipmen, after the 
war with France, were already commanders, and the vessels 
beneath the rate of frigates, with one exception, were com- 
manded by gentlemen of this description. The exception was 
in the case of the Wasp 18, on board which ship was Captain 
Jones, who had been the youngest of the lieutenants retained 
in 1801, and who was now nearly the oldest master-command- 
ant. He had joined the service, however, as a midshipman. 

If the naval armaments made by the country, under the 
prospect of a war with Great Britain, are to be regarded with 
the eyes of prudence, little more can be said, than to express 
astonishment at the political infatuation which permitted the 
day of preparation to pass unheeded. Still a little was done, 
and that little it is our duty to record. 

Early in 1809, the marine corps was augmented by an 
addition of near 700 men, which probably put this important 
branch of the navy, on a footing equal to the rest of the ser- 
vice, as it then existed ; the entire corps containing about 1300 
men when full. On the 30th of March, 1812, or less than 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 241 

three months previously to the war with England, Congress 
authorised the President to cause three additional frigates to be 
put in service, and the sum of $200,000 annually was appro- 
priated for the purchase of timber to rebuild the three frigates 
that had been permitted to decay, and the one that had been 
captured. 

When the amount of these appropriations is considered, the 
conclusion would seem inevitable, that the government did not 
at all anticipate hostilities, were it not for the more ample pre- 
parations that were making on land, and the large sums that 
had been expended on gun-boats. It is not improbable, there- 
fore, that those to whom the direction of affairs was confided, 
believed the naval force of the country too insignificant, and 
that of Great Britain too overwhelming, to render any serious 
efforts to create a marine, at that late hour, expedient. A com- 
parison of the naval forces of Great Britain and the United 
States, with their respective conditions, will render this idea 
plausible, although it may not fully justify it, as a measure of 
policy. 

In 1812, the navy of Great Britain nominally contained 
a thousand and sixty sail, of which between seven and eight 
hundred were efficient cruising vessels. France had no fleets 
to occupy this great marine, Spain was detached from the alli- 
ance against England, the north of Europe no longer required 
a force to watch it, and Great Britain might direct towards 
the American coast, as many ships as the nature of the war 
could possibly demand. 

As opposed to this unexampled naval power, America had 
on her list the following vessels, exclusively of gun-boats, viz : 



John Adams 28, 

Wasp 18, 

Hornet 18, 

Argus 16, 

Siren 16, 

Oneida 16, 

Vixen 14, 

Nautilus 14, 

Enterprise 14, 

Viper 12. 

Of these vessels, the New York 36, and Boston 28, were 
unseaworthy, and the Oneida 16, was on Lake Ontario. The 
remainder were efficient for their rates ; though the Adams 
21 



Constitution 44, 

President 44, 

United States 44, 

Congress 38, 

Constellation 38, 

Chesapeake 38, 

New York 36, 

Essex 32, 

Adams 28, 

Boston 28, 



242 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

required extensive repairs before she could be sent to sea. It 
follows that America was about to engage in a war with much 
the greatest maritime power that the world ever saw, possessing 
herself but seventeen cruising vessels on the ocean, of which 
nine were of a class less than that of frigates. At this time 
the merchant vessels of the United States were spread over the 
face of the entire globe. No other instance can be found of so 
great a stake in shipping with a protection so utterly inade- 
quate. 

There can be but one manner of accounting for this extra- 
ordinary state of things ; that already mentioned of the belief 
of the impossibility of keeping vessels at sea, in face of the 
overwhelming force of Great Britain. It is in corroboration 
of this opinion, that a project was entertained by the cabinet of 
laying up all the vessels in ordinary, with a view to prevent them 
from falling into the hands of the enemy. This step would 
have been a death-blow to the navy, since the people would have 
been perfectly justifiable in refusing to support a marine, that 
was intended solely for peace. It is now understood that this 
resolution was only prevented by the interference of two offi- 
cers of the service, who happened to be at the seat of govern- 
ment when the subject was under discussion. These gentle- 
men* are said to have made a vigorous written remonstrance 
against the scheme, and by means of their representations to 
have induced the cabinet to change its policy. 

Under ordinary circumstances the intention just stated, 
would have been indicative of great feebleness of action, and 
of a narrowness of views, that was entirely unsuited to the 
characters of statesmen. But the circumstances were extra- 
ordinary. Not only was the marine of Great Britain much 
the most powerful of any in the world, but it was more povv- 

* Captains Bainbridge and Stewart. These two officers were shown 
orders to Commodore Rodgcrs not to quit New York, but to keep the ves- 
sels in port to form a part of its habour defence. They sought an inter- 
view with the Secretary, who was influenced by their representations, and 
who procured for them an audience of the President. Mr. Madison list- 
ened to the representations of the two captains, with attention, and ob- 
served that the experience of the Revolution confirmed their opinions. 
The Cabinet was convened, but it adhered to its former advice. Captains 
Bainbridge and Stewart then addressed a strong letter to the President, 
who took on himself to change the plan. It is said, that one or two of 
the cabinet acceded to this decision, on the ground that the ships would 
soon be taken, and that the country would thus be rid of the cost of main- 
taining them, and at more liberty to direct its energies to the army. 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 243 

erful than those of all the rest of Christendom united. In ad- 
dition to its actual physical force, it had created for itself a 
moral auxiliary that was scarcely less available in practice 
than its guns and men. The reputation of invincibility was 
very generally attached to an English man-of-war, and per- 
haps no people gave England more ample credit for every 
species of superiority, whether physical or moral, that she 
claimed for herself, than those of the United States of America. 
The success of the British navy was indisputable, and as few 
Americans then read books, or journals, in foreign tongues, 
while scarcely a newspaper appeared without its columns con- 
taining some tribute to British glory, it would not be easy to 
portray the extent of the feeling, or the amount of the credulity 
that generally existed on such subjects. 

That the officers of the navy should, in a great degree, be 
superior to this dependent feeling was natural. They had en- 
joyed means of comparison that were denied the bulk of their 
fellow-citizens, and the results had taught them more confi- 
dence in themselves. They knew that their ships were at 
least as good as those of England, that they sailed as fast, 
were worked as well, and, in every essential on which a sea- 
man prides himself, that England could justly claim no other 
superiority than that which might be supposed to belong to her 
greater experience in naval warfare. Against this odds, they 
were willing to contend. Not so with the nation. Notwith- 
standing the best dispositions on the part of a vast majority of 
the American people, the conviction was general that an 
American vessel of war would contend against an English ves- 
sel of war with very few chances of success. After making 
every allowance for equality in all the other essentials, the 
great point of practice was against the former, and the confi- 
dence produced by a thousand victories, it was believed would 
prove more available than zeal or courage. 

It is not as easy to describe the feeling on the other side. 
Among the young officers of the British navy it is pretty safe 
to say that a notion of overwhelming superiority was very 
generally prevalent ; but among the older men there were many 
who had studied the American cruisers with observant eyes, 
and a few who still recollected the war of the revolution, when 
ill-equipped, uncoppered and half-manned ships, had rendered 
victory dear, and, not unfrequently, defeat certain. The jour- 
nals of Great Britain indulged in that coarse and impolitic 
abuse, which has probably done more towards raising a hostile 



244 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

feeling throughout Christendom against their nation, than any- 
political injustice, or political jealousies ; and the few ships of 
the American navy did not escape their sneers and misrepre- 
sentations. One of the very last of the vessels they attempted 
to hold up to the derision of Europe was the Constitution, a 
frigate that was termed " a bunch of pine boards," sailing 
" under a bit of striped bunting." As indecorous as was this 
language, and as little worthy as it might be to excite feeling, 
or comment, America was too keenly alive to English opinion, 
to hear it with indifference, and the day was at hand when she 
exultingly threw back these terms of reproach, with taunts 
and ridicule almost as unbecoming as the gibes that had pro- 
voked them. 

There is little doubt that even the friends of the navy looked 
forward to the conflict with distrust, while the English felt a 
confidence that, of itself, was one step towards victory. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

Owing to grievances, that had long been drawing to a head, 
Congress formally declared war against the King of Great 
Britain on the 18th of June, 1812. 

At the moment when this important intelligence was made 
public, nearly all of the little American marine were in port, 
or were cruising in the immediate vicinity of the coast. The 
Wasp 18, Captain Jones, was alone on foreign service; and 
she was on her return from Europe with despatches. 

But the declaration of war did not find the little marine of 
America in a condition to act in a combined, intelligent, and 
military manner. The vesels were scattered ; some were un- 
dergoing repairs, others were at a distance ; and with the ex- 
ception of one small squadron, eveiy thing was virtually com- 
mitted to the activity, judgment, and enterprise of the different 
captains. In the port of New York, were collected the Presi- 
dent 44, Commodore Rodgers ; Essex 32, Captain Porter ; and 
Hornet 18, Captain Lawrence. With the exception of the Es- 
sex, which ship was overhauling her rigging, and re-stowing her 
hold, these vessels were ready to sail at an hour's notice. Com- 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 245 

modore, Rodgers in anticipation of hostilities had dropped into 
the bay, with the President and Hornet, where he was joined by 
the United States 44, Commodore Decatur, Congress 38, Captain 
Smith, and Argus 16, Lieutenant Commandant Sinclair, all of 
which vessels arrived from the southward on the 21st of June. 

Information had been received of the sailing of a large fleet 
of Jamaica-men, under protection of a strong force ; and as 
these vessels would naturally be sweeping along the American 
coast, in the gulf stream, it was determined to make a dash 
at this convoy, — as judicious a plan, under the circumstances, 
as could then have been adopted. Within an hour after he 
had received official information of the declaration of war, to- 
gether with his orders, Commodore Rodgers was under way. 

The squadron passed Sandy Hook on the afternoon of the 
21st of June, and ran off south-east. That night an American 
was spoken that had seen the Jamaica ships, and sail was in- 
stantly crowded in pursuit. On the 23d, however, at 6 A. M., 
a vessel was seen to the northward and eastward, which was 
soon made out to be an enemy's frigate, and a general chase 
took place. The wind was fresh for the greater part of the 
day, and, the enemy standing before it, the President, an un- 
commonly fast ship off the wind, soon gained, not only on the 
stranger, but on the rest of the squadron. About 4 P. M., she 
was within gun-shot of the chase, but the wind had unfortu- 
nately fallen, and the American ships being just out of port, 
and deep, their greater comparative weight, under such cir- 
cumstances, gave the enemy an advantage. Perceiving but 
very faint hopes of getting alongside of the stranger, unless 
he could be crippled, Commodore Rodgers determined to open 
on him with his chase-guns. With this view, that officer went 
forward, himself, to direct the cannonade, and about half-past 
4, the forecastle gun was discharged. This was the first hos- 
tile shot fired afloat in the war of 1812, and the gun is under- 
stood to have been pointed by Commodore Rodgers in person. 
The shot struck the chase in the rudder-coat, and drove through 
the stern frame into the gun-room. The next gun was fired 
from the first division below ; it was pointed and discharged 
by Mr. Gamble, the second lieutenant, who commanded the 
battery. The shot struck the muzzle of one of the enemy's 
stern chasers, which it damaged. Commodore Rodgers fired 
the third shot, which struck the stern of the chase, killed two 
men, badly wounded two more, and slightly injured a lieuten- 
ant and two others. Mr. Gamble again fired, when the gun 
21* 



246 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

bursted. The shot flew broad off on the President's bow, and 
the explosion killed and wounded sixteen men. The forecas- 
tle deck was blown up, and Commodore Rodgers was thrown 
into the air, breaking a leg by the fall. This accident prevent- 
ed the guns of that side from being used for some time. The 
pause enabled the enemy to open from four stern guns, other- 
wise he would have soon been driven from the after part of 
his ship. The fire of the chase was spirited and good, one of 
his shot plunging on the President's deck, killing a midship- 
man and one or two men. The President shortly after began 
to yaw, with a view to shoot away some of the chase's spars, 
and her fire soon compelled the latter to lighten. The enemy 
cut away his anchors, stove his boats and threw them over- 
board, and started fourteen tons of water. By these means 
he drew ahead, when about 7 o'clock the President hauled up, 
and as a last resort, fired three broadsides, most of the shot 
of which fell short. 

Finding it impossible to get any nearer to the enemy, with- 
out rendering his own ships inefficient for a cruise, by lighten- 
ing, Commodore Rodgers ordered the pursuit to be abandoned, 
about midnight. It was, afterwards known that the vessel 
chased was the Belvidera 36, Captain Byron, who gained much 
credit for the active manner in which he saved his ship. The 
Belvidera got into Halifax a few days later, carrying with her 
the news of the declaration of war. The President had twenty- 
two men killed and wounded on this occasion, sixteen of whom 
suffered by the bursting of the gun. Among the former was 
the midshipman mentioned ; and among the latter Mr. Gam- 
ble. The loss of the Belvidera Avas stated at seven killed and 
wounded by shot, and several others by accidents, Captain 
Byron included. She also suffered materially in her spars, 
sails, and rigging ; while the injuries of this nature, received 
by the President, were not serious. 

The squadron now hauled up to its course, in pursuit of the 
Jamaica-men ; and, from time to time, intelligence was obtain- 
ed from American vessels, of the course the fleet was steering. 
On the 1st of July, the pursuing ships fell in with large quan- 
tities of cocoa-nut shells, orange-peels, &c. &c, which gave 
an assurance that they had struck the wake of the English- 
men. This was a little to the eastward of the Banks of New- 
foundland, and the strongest hopes were entertained of coming 
up with the fleet before it could reach the channel. On the 
9th of July, an English letter of marque was captured by the 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 247 

Hornet, Captain Lawrence, and her master reported that he 
had seen the Jamaica vessels the previous evening, under the 
convoy of a two-decked ship, a frigate, a sloop of war, and a 
brig. He had counted eighty-five sail. All possible means 
were now used to force the squadron ahead, but without suc- 
cess, no further information having been received of the fleet. 
The chase was continued until the 13th, when, being within a 
day's run of the chops of the channel, Commodore Rodgers 
stood to the southward, passing Madeira, and going into Bos- 
ton by the way of the Western Islands and the Grand Banks. 

This cruise was singularly unfortunate, for such a moment, 
although the ships were kept in the direct tracks of vessels in 
crossing the ocean, each time. Seven merchantmen were 
taken, however, and one American was recaptured. The 
squadron was absent on this service seventy days. 

The report of the Belvidera induced the enemy to collect 
as many of his vessels in squadron as possible ; and a force 
consisting of the Africa 64, Captain Bastard ; Shannon 38, 
Captain Broke ; Guerriere 38, Captain Dacres ; Belvidera 36, 
Captain Byron ; and iEolus 32, Captain Lord James Town- 
send, was soon united, in the hope of falling in with Commo- 
dore Rodgers. Of this squadron, Captain Broke, of the Shan- 
non, was the senior officer. It appeared off New York early 
in July, where it made several captures. The Nautilus 14, 
Lieutenant Commandant Crane, arrived in the port of New 
York shortly after the squadron of Commodore Rodgers had 
sailed ; and this little brig went out with an intention of cruis- 
ing in the track of the English Indiamen, at the unfortunate 
moment when Commodore Broke appeared off the coast. The 
Nautilus got to sea quite early in July, and fell in with the 
British squadron the next day. A short, but vigorous chase 
succeeded, in which Mr. Crane threw overboard bis lee-guns, 
and did all that a seaman could devise to escape ; but the Nau- 
tilus buried, while the frigates of the enemy were enabled to 
carry every thing to advantage, and he struck to the Shannon. 
The Nautilus was the first vessel of war taken on either side, 
in this contest ; and thus the service lost one of those cruisers, 
which had become endeared to it, and identified with its his- 
tory, in connexion with the war before Tripoli. The enemy 
took out the officers and people of their prize, threw a crew 
into her, and continued to cruise in the hope of meeting the 
American ships. 

On her return from a recent run to Europe, the Constitution 



248 NAVAL HISTORY. [1S12. 

44, Captain Hull, had gone into the Chesapeake. Here she 
shipped a new crew, and on the 12th of July she sailed from 
Annapolis, and stood to the northward. So rapidly had her 
equipment been effected, that her first lieutenant joined her 
only a fortnight before she sailed, and a draft of a hundred 
men was received on the evening of the 11th. Friday, July 
the 17th, the ship was out of sight of land, though at no great 
distance from the coast, with a light breeze from the N. E., 
and under easy canvass. At 1, she sounded in 22 fathoms; 
and about an hour afterwards, four sail were made in the 
northern board, heading to the westward. At 3, the Constitu- 
tion made sail, and tacked in 18^ fathoms. At 4, she disco- 
vered a fifth sail to the northward and eastward, which had 
the appearance of a vessel of war. This ship subsequently 
proved to be the Guerriere 38, Captain Dacres. By this time, 
the other four sail were made out to be three ships and a brig ; 
they bore N. N. W., and were all on the starboard tack, ap- 
parently in company. The wind now became very light, and 
the Constitution hauled up her main-sail. The ship in the 
eastern board, however, had so far altered her position by 6, 
as to bear E. N. E., the wind having hitherto been fair for her 
to close. But at a quarter past 6, the wind came out light at 
the southward, bringing the American ship to windward. The 
Constitution now wore round with her head to the eastward, 
set her light studding-sails and stay-sails, and at half past 7, 
beat to quarters, and cleared for action, with the intention of 
speaking the nearest vessel. 

The wind continued very light at the southward, and the 
two vessels were slowly closing until 8. At 10, the Constitu- 
tion shortened sail, and immediately after she showed the pri- 
vate signal of the day. After keeping the lights aloft near an 
hour, and getting no answer from the Guerriere, the Constitu- 
tion, at a quarter past 11, lowered the signal, and made sail 
again, hauling aboard her starboard tacks. During the whole 
of the middle watch the wind was very light, from the south- 
ward and westward. Just as the morning watch was called, 
the Guerriere tacked, then wore entirely round, threw a rocket, 
and fired two guns. As the day opened, three sail were dis- 
covered on the starboard quarter of the Constitution, and three 
more astern. At 5 A. M., a fourth vessel was seen astern. 

This was the squadron of Commodore Broke, which had 
been gradually closing with the American frigate during the 
night, and was now just out of gun-shot. As the ships slowly 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 249 

varied their positions, when the mists were entirely cleared 
away, the Constitution had two frigates on her lee quarter, and 
a ship of the line, two frigates, a brig and a schooner astern. 
The names of the enemy's ships have already been given ; 
but the brig was the Nautilus, and the schooner another prize. 
All the strangers had English colours flying. 

It now fell quite calm, and the Constitution hoisted out her 
boats, and sent them ahead to tow, with a view to keep the 
ship out of the reach of the enemy's shot. At the same time, 
she whipt up one of the gun-deck guns to the spar-deck, and 
run it out aft, as a stern-chaser, getting a long eighteen off the 
forecastle also for a similar purpose. Two more of the 
twenty-fours below were run out at the cabin windows, with 
the same object, though it was found necessary to cut away 
some of the wood-work of the stern frame, in order to make 
room. 

By 6 o'clock the wind, which continued very light and 
baffling, came out from the northward of west, when the ship's 
head was got round to the southward, and all the light canvass 
that would draw was set. Soon after, the nearest frigate, the 
Shannon, opened with her bow guns, and continued firing for 
about ten minutes ; but perceiving she could not reach the Con- 
stitution, she ceased. At half past 6, Captain Hull sounded 
in 26 fathoms, when finding that the enemy was likely to 
close y as he was enabled to put the boats of two ships on one, 
and was also favoured by a little more air than the Constitu- 
tion, all the spare rope that could be found, and which was fit 
for the purpose, was payed down into the cutters, bent on, and 
a kedge was run out near half a mile ahead, and let go. At 
a signal given, the crew clapped on, and walked away with the 
ship, overrunning and tripping the kedge as she came up with 
the end of the line. While this was doing, fresh lines and an- 
other kedge were carried ahead, and, though out of sight of 
land, the frigate glided away from her pursuers, before they 
discovered the manner in which it was done. It was not long, 
however, before the enemy resorted to the same expedient. 
At half past 7, the Constitution had a little air, when she set 
her ensign, and fired a shot at the Shannon, the nearest ship 
astern. At 8, it fell calm again, and further recourse was had 
to the boats and the kedges, the enemy's vessels having a light 
air, and drawing ahead, towing, sweeping, and kedging. By 
9, the nearest frigate, the Shannon, on which the English had 
put most of their boats, was closing fast, and there was every 



250 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

prospect, notwithstanding the steadiness and activity of the 
Constitution's people, that the frigate just mentioned would get 
near enough to cripple her, when her capture by the rest of 
the squadron would be inevitable. At this trying moment the 
best spirit prevailed in the ship. Every thing was stoppered, 
and Captain Hull was not without hopes, even should he be 
forced into action, of" throwing the Shannon astern by his fire, 
and of maintaining his distance from the other vessels. It 
was known that the enemy could not tow very near, as it 
would have been easy to sink his boats with the stern guns of 
the Constitution, and not a man in the latter vessel showed a 
disposition to despondency. Officers and men relieved each 
other regularly at the duty, and while the former threw them- 
selves down on deck to catch short naps, the people slept at 
their guns. 

This was one of the most critical moments of the chase. 
The Shannon was fast closing, as has been just stated, while 
the Guerriere was almost as near on the larboard quarter. 
An hour promised to bring the struggle to an issue, when sud- 
denly, at 9 minutes past 9, a light air from the southward 
struck the ship, bringing her to windward. The beautiful 
manner in which this advantage was improved, excited admi- 
ration even in the enemy. As the breeze was seen coming, 
the ship's sails were trimmed, and as soon as she was under 
command, she was brought close up to the wind, on the lar- 
board tack ; the boats were all dropped in alongside ; those 
that belonged to the davits were run up, while the others were 
just lifted clear of the water, by purchases on the spare out- 
board spars, where they were in readiness to be used at a mo- 
ment's notice. As the ship came by the wind, she brought 
the Guerriere nearly on her lee beam, when that frigate opened 
a fire from her broadside. While the shot of this vessel were 
just falling short of them, the people of the Constitution were 
hoisting up their boats with as much steadiness as if the duty 
was performing in a friendly port. In about an hour, how- 
ever, it fell nearly calm again, when Captain Hull ordered a 
quantity of the water started, to lighten the ship. More than 
two thousand gallons were pumped out, and the boats were 
sent ahead again to tow. The enemy now put nearly all his 
boats on the Shannon, the nearest ship astern ; and a few 
hours of prodigious exertion followed, the people of the Con- 
stitution being compelled to supply the place of numbers by 
their activity and zeal. The ships were close by the wind, 



1812] NAVAL HISTORY. 251 

and every thing that would draw was set, and the Shannon 
was slowly, but steadily, forging ahead. About noon of this 
day, there was a little relaxation from labour, owing to the oc- 
casional occurrence of cat's-paws, by watching which closely, 
the ship was urged through the water. But at quarter past 
12, the boats were again sent ahead, and the toilsome work 
of towing and kedging was renewed. 

At 1 o'clock a strange sail was discovered nearly to lee- 
ward. At this moment the four frigates of the enemy were 
about one point oh the lee-quarter of the Constitution, at long 
gun-shot, the Africa and the two prizes being on the lee-beam. 
As the wind was constantly baffling, any moment might have 
brought a change, and placed the enemy to windward. At 
seven minutes before two, the Belvidera, then the nearest ship, 
began to fire with her bow guns, and the Constitution opened 
with her stern chasers. On board the latter ship, however, it 
was soon found to be dangerous to use the main-deck guns, 
the transoms having so much rake, the windows being so high, 
and the guns so short, that every explosion lifted the upper 
deck, and threatened to blow out the stern frame. Perceiving, 
moreover, that his shot did little or no execution, Captain Hull 
ordered the firing to cease at half-past 2. 

For several hours, the enemy's frigates were now within 
gun-shot, sometimes towing and kedging, and at others en- 
deavouring to close with the puffs of air that occasionally 
passed. At 7 in the evening, the boats of the Constitution were 
again ahead, the ship steering S. W. £ W., with an air so light 
as to be almost imperceptible. At half past 7, she sounded in 
24 fathoms. For hours, the same toilsome duty was going on, 
until a little before 11, when a light air from the southward 
struck the ship, and the sails for the first time in many weary 
hours were asleep. The boats instantly dropped alongside, 
hooked on, and were all run up, with the exception of the first 
cutter. The topgallant studding-sails and stay-sails were set 
as soon as possible, and for about an hour, the people caught 
a little rest. 

But at midnight it fell nearly calm again ; though neither the 
pursuers nor the pursued had recourse to the boats, probably 
from an unwillingness to disturb their crews. At 2 A. M., it 
was observed on board the Constitution that the Guerriere had 
forged ahead, and was again off their lee-beam. At this time, 
the top-gallant studding-sails were taken in. 

In this manner passed the night, and on the morning of the 



252 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

next day, it was found that three of the enemy's frigates were 
within long gun-shot on the lee-quarter, and the other at about 
the same distance on the lee-beam. The Africa, and the 
prizes, were much farther to leeward. 

A little after daylight, the Guerriere, having drawn ahead 
sufficiently to be forward of the Constitution's beam, tacked, 
when the latter ship did the same, in order to preserve her po- 
sition to windward. An hour later the iEolus passed on the 
contrary tack, so near that it was thought by some who ob- 
served the movement, that she ought to have opened her fire ; 
but, as that vessel was merely a twelve-pounder frigate, and 
she was still at a considerable distance, it is quite probable her 
commander acted judiciously. By this time, there was suffi- 
cient wind to induce Captain Hull to hoist in his first cutter. 

The scene, on the morning of this day, was very beautiful, 
and of great interest to the lovers of nautical exhibitions. The 
weather was mild and lovely, the sea smooth as a pond, and 
there was quite wind enough to remove the necessity of any 
of the extraordinary means of getting ahead, that had been so 
freely used during the previous eight-and-forty hours. All the 
English vessels had got on the same tack with the Constitution 
again, and the five frigates were clouds of canvass, from their 
trucks to the water. Including the American ship, eleven sail 
were in sight, and shortly after a twelfth appeared to wind- 
ward, that was soon ascertained to be an American merchant- 
man. But the enemy were too intent on the Constitution to 
regard any thing else, and though it would have been easy to 
capture the ships to leeward, no attention appears to have been 
paid to them. With a view, however, to deceive the ship to 
windward they hoisted American colours, when the Constitu- 
tion set an English ensign, by way of warning the stranger to 
keep aloof. 

Until 10 o'clock the Constitution was making every prepara- 
tion for carrying sail hard .should it become necessary, and she 
sounded in 25 fathoms. At noon the wind fell again, though 
it was found that while the breeze lasted, she had gained on 
all of the enemy's ships ; more, however, on some, than on 
others. The nearest vessel was the Belvidera, which was ex- 
actly in the wake of the Constitution, distant about two and a 
half miles, bearing W. N. W. The nearest frigate to leeward, 
bore N. by W. £ W. distant three or three and a half miles ; 
the two other frigates were on the lee-quarter, distant about 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 253 

five miles ; and the Africa was hull down to leeward, on the 
opposite tack. 

This was a vast improvement on the state of things that had 
existed the day previous, and it allowed the officers and men 
to catch a little rest, though no one left the decks. The lati- 
tude by observation this day, was 38° 47' N., and the longitude 
by dead l-eckoning 73° 57' W. 

At meridian the wind began to blow a pleasant breeze, and 
the sound of the water rippling under the bows of the vessel 
was again heard. From this moment the noble old ship slowly 
drew ahead of all her pursuers, the sails being watched and 
tended in the best manner that consummate seamanship could 
dictate, until 4 P. M., when the Belvidera was more than four 
miles astern, and the other vessels were thrown behind in 
the same proportion, though the wind had again got to be very 
light. 

In this manner both parties kept pressing ahead and to 
windward, as fast as circumstances would allow, profiting by 
every change, and resorting to all the means of forcing vessels 
through the water, that are known to seamen. At a little be- 
fore 7, however, there was every appearance of a heavy squall, 
accompanied by rain ; when the Constitution prepared to meet 
it with the coolness and discretion she had displayed through- 
out the whole affair. The people were stationed, and every 
thing was kept fast to the last moment, when, just before the 
squall struck the ship, the order was given to clew up and clew 
down. All the light canvass was furled, a second reef was 
taken in the mizzen-topsail, and the ship was brought under 
short sail, in an incredibly little time. The English vessels, 
observing this, began to let go and haul down without waiting 
for the wind, and when they were shut in by the rain, they 
were steering in different directions to avoid the force of the 
expected squall. The Constitution, on the other hand, no 
sooner got its weight, than she sheeted home and hoisted her 
fore and main-top-gallant sails, and while the enemy most pro- 
bably believed her to be borne down by the pressure of the 
wind, steering free, she was flying away from them, on an 
easy bowline, at the rate of eleven knots. 

In a little less than an hour after the squall struck the 
ship, it had entirely passed to leeward, and a sight was again 
obtained of the enemy. The Belvidera, the nearest vessel, had 
altered her bearings in that short period two points more to 
leeward, and she was a long way astern. The next nearest 
22 



254 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

vessel was still farther to leeward, and more distant, while the 
two remaining frigates were fairly hull down. The Africa was 
barely visible in the horizon ! 

All apprehensions of the enemy now ceased, though sail was 
carried to increase the distance, and to preserve the weather- 
gage. At half-past 10, the wind backed further to the south- 
ward, when the Constitution, which had been steering free for 
some time, took in her lower studding-sails. At 11 the enemy 
fired two guns, and the nearest ship could just be discerned. 
As the wind baffled, and continued light, the enemy still perse- 
vered in the chase, but at daylight the nearest vessel was hull 
down astern and to leeward. Under the circumstances it was 
deemed prudent to use every exertion to lose sight of the 
English frigates ; and the wind falling light, the Constitution's 
sails were wet down from the skysails to the courses. The 
good effects of this care were soon visible, as at 6 A. M. the 
topsails of the enemy's nearest vessels were beginning to dip. 
At a quarter past 8, the English ships all hauled to the north- 
ward and eastward, fully satisfied, by a trial that had lasted 
nearly three days, and as many nights, under all the circum- 
stances that can attend naval manoeuvres, from reefed top- 
sails to hedging, that they had no hope of overtaking their 
enemy. 

Thus terminated a chase, that has become historical in the 
American navy, for its length, closeness, and activity. On 
the part of the English, there were manifested much perse- 
verance and seamanship, a ready imitation, and a strong desire 
to get alongside of their enemy. But the glory of the affair 
was carried off by the officers and people of the Constitution. 
Throughout all the trying circumstances of this arduous strug- 
gle, this noble frigate, which had so lately been the subject of 
the sneers of the English critics, maintained the high character 
of a man-of-war. Even when pressed upon the hardest, no- 
thing was hurried, confused, or slovenly ; but the utmost steadi- 
ness, order, and discipline reigned in the ship. A cool, dis- 
creet, and gallant commander, was nobly sustained by his 
officers ; and there cannot be a doubt that had the enemy suc- 
ceeded in getting any one of their frigates fairly under the fire 
of the American ship, that she would have been very roughly 
treated. The escape itself, is not so much a matter of admi- 
ration, as the manner in which it was effected. A little water 
was pumped out, it is true, and perhaps this was necessary, in 
order to put a vessel fresh from port on a level, in light winds 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 255 

and calms, with ships that had been cruising some time ; but 
not an anchor was cut away, not a boat stove, nor a gun lost. 
The steady and man-of-war like style in which the Constitution 
took in all her boats, as occasions offered ; the order and ra- 
pidity with which she kedged, and the vigilant seamanship 
with which she was braced up and eased off, extorted admira- 
tion among the more liberal of her pursuers. In this affair, 
the ship, no less than those who worked her, gained a high 
reputation, if not with the world generally, at least with those 
who, perhaps, as seldom err in their nautical criticisms as any 
people living. 

The English relinquished the pursuit at 8 A. M., and at 
half-past 8 the Constitution, discovering a vessel on her star- 
board bow, made sail in chase. At three-quarters past 9 
brought to, and spoke an American brig. At 10 made sail 
again in chase of another vessel on the lee bow, which also 
proved to be an American, bound in. At meridian, hoisted in 
the boat used in boarding, took a second reef in the topsails, 
and stood to the eastward, the ship going into Boston near the 
middle of the same month. 

A few days after the chase of the Constitution, the English 
squadron separated, the Africa returning to port with the 
prisoners and prizes, and the frigates shaping their courses in 
different directions, in the hope that the ship which had avoided 
them so carefully when in company, might be less averse to 
meeting either singly. 

The Essex 32, Captain Porter, got to sea from New York, 
not long after the departure of Commodore Rogers, and went 
first to the southward. She made several prizes early, destroy- 
ing most of them, and receiving the prisoners on board. The 
weather now compelled the Essex to run to the northward. 
When a few weeks from port, a small fleet was approached at 
night, which was immediately understood to be enemies. Out 
of this fleet the Essex succeeded in getting a ship. On taking 
possession of her prize, it was found filled with soldiers, and so 
much time was necessarily consumed in securing the latter, 
that the day dawned, and it became inexpedient to renew the 
attempt on the convoy. The frigate was said to be the Mi- 
nerva 36, and the troops in the convoy amounted to near 1000 
men. About 150 were taken in the prize. 

A few days after this success, the Essex made a strange 
sail to windward. At the moment, the frigate was disguised 
as a merchantman, having her gun-deck ports in, top-gallant 



256 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

masts housed, and sails trimmed in a slovenly manner. De- 
ceived by these appearances, the stranger came running down 
free, when the American ship showed her ensign and kept 
away, under short sail. This emboldened the stranger, who 
followed, and having got on the weather quarter of his chase, 
he began his fire, setting English colours. The Essex now 
knocked out her ports, and opened upon the enemy, who ap- 
pears to have been so much taken by surprise, that after receiv- 
ing one or two discharges, his people deserted their quarters, and 
ran below. In eight minutes after the Essex had begun to fire, 
the English ship struck. On sending Lieutenant Finch* on 
board to take possession, the prize proved to be his Britannic 
Majesty's ship Alert, Captain Laugharne, mounting 20 eigh- 
teen-pound carronades, and with a full crew. Mr. Finch 
found seven feet of water in the Alert, and was obliged to ware 
round, to keep her from sinking. 

The Alert was the first vessel of war taken from the English 
in this contest, and her resistance was so feeble as to excite 
surpx'ise. It was not to be expected, certainly, that a ship car- 
rying eighteen-pound carronades, could successfully resist a 
ship carrying thirty-two-pound carronades, and double her 
number of guns and men ; but so exaggerated had become the 
opinion of the British prowess on the ocean, that impossibilities 
were sometimes looked for. As it is understood that only a 
part of the Essex's guns bore on the Alert, the manner in 
which the latter was taken, must be attributed to a sudden 
panic among her people, some of whom were censured after 
their exchange. One or two of the officers even, did not 
escape, the first lieutenant having been dismissed the service, 
by a court-martial. The Alert had but three men wounded, 
and the Essex sustained no injury at all. 

Captain Porter, with the addition made by the crew of the 
Alert, had many prisoners, and he felt the necessity of getting 
rid of them. He accordingly entered into an arrangement 
with Captain Laugharne, to convert the Alert into a cartel, and 
to send her into St. John's. This project, so favourable to the 
American interests, was successfully accomplished ; and it is 
due to his character to say, that the officer in command at 
Newfoundland, Admiral Sir J. T. Duckworth, while he pro- 
tested against the course, as unusual and injurious to a 
nation like England, which had so many cruisers at sea, by 

* Now Captain Bolton. 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 257 

depriving her of the chances of recapture, honourably complied 
with the conditions entered into by his subordinate. 

The Essex continued to cruise to the southward of the 
Grand Banks. On two occasions, she fell in with enemy's 
frigates, and at one time was so hard pressed, as to be reduced 
to the necessity of making every preparation to carry one by 
boarding in the night, since, another English vessel of war 
being in company, an engagement in the usual manner would 
have been indiscreet. The arrangments made on board the 
Essex, on this occasion, are still spoken of with admiration, 
by those who were in the ship ; and there is great reason to 
think they would have succeeded, had the vessels met. By 
some accident, that has never been explained, the ships passed 
each other in the darkness, and shortly after, the Essex came 
into the Delaware to replenish her water and stores. 

In the meanwhile, the Constitution was not idle. Remaining 
at Boston a short time after his celebrated chase, Captain Hull 
sailed again on the 2d of August, standing along the land to 
the eastward, in the hope of falling in with some of the enemy's 
cruisers, that were thought to be hovering on the coast. The 
ship ran down, near the land, as far as the Bay of Fundy, 
without seeing any thing, when she went off Halifax and Cape 
Sable, with the same want of success. Captain Hull now de- 
termined to go farther east, and he went near the Isle of 
Sables, and thence to the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
to intercept vessels bound to Halifax or Quebec. Here two 
prizes, of little value, were taken and burned. On the morning 
of the 15th, five sail were made, one of which was a sloop of 
war. The Constitution gave chase, and the enemy soon set 
one of his vessels, a prize brig, on fire. The chases now sepa- 
rated, and the sloop of war being to windward, the Constitution 
followed a ship, which turned out to be an Englishman, al- 
ready a prize to an American privateer. This vessel had been 
spoken by the sloop of war, but the appearance of the Consti- 
tution prevented her recapture. A brig was next chased to 
leeward, and proved to be an American, with a prize crew on 
board. She was retaken, and sent in. The remainder of the 
vessels escaped. 

The Constitution next stood to the southward, and on the 
19th, at 2 P. M., in lat. 41° 41', long. 55° 48', a sail was 
made from the mast-heads, bearing E. S. E., and to leeward, 
though the distance prevented her character from being dis- 
covered. The Constitution immediately made sail in chase, 
22* 



258 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

and at 3, the stranger was ascertained to be a ship on the star- 
board tack, under easy canvass, and close hauled. Half an 
hour later, she was distinctly made out to be a frigate, and no 
doubt was entertained of her being an enemy. The American 
ship kept running free until she was within a league of the 
frigate to leeward, when she began to shorten sail. By this 
time, the enemy had laid his main-topsail aback, in waiting for 
the Constitution to come down, with every thing ready to en- 
gage. Perceiving that the Englishman sought a combat, Cap- 
tain Hull made his own preparations with the greater delibera- 
tion. The Constitution, consequently, furled her top-gallant- 
sails, and stowed all her light stay-sails and the flying jib. 
Soon after, she took a second reef in the topsails, hauled up 
the courses, sent down royal-yards, cleared for action, and 
beat to quarters. At 5, the chase hoisted three English en- 
signs, and immediately after she opened her fire, at long gun- 
shot, waring several times, to rake and prevent being raked. 
The Constitution occasionally yawed as she approached, to 
avoid being raked, and she fired a few guns as they bore, but 
her object was not to commence the action seriously, until 
quite close. 

At 6 o'clock, the enemy bore up, and ran off under his three 
topsails and jib, with the wind on his quarter. As this was an 
indication of a readiness to receive his antagonist, in a fair 
yard-arm and yard-arm fight, the Constitution immediately set 
her main-topgallant-sail and foresail, to get alongside. At a 
little after 6, the bows of the American frigate began to double 
on the quarter of the English ship, when she opened with her 
forward guns, drawing slowly ahead, with her greater way, 
both vessels keeping up a close and heavy fire, as their guns 
bore. In about ten minutes, or just as the ships were fairly 
side by side, the mizzen-mast of the Englishman was shot 
away, when the American passed slowly ahead, keeping up a 
tremendous fire, and luffed short round the bows of the enemy, 
to prevent being raked. In executing this manoeuvre, the ship 
shot into the wind, got sternway, and fell foul of her antago- 
nist. While in this situation, the cabin of the Constitution took 
fire from the close explosion of the forward guns of the enemy, 
who obtained a small, but momentary advantage from his po- 
sition. The good conduct of Mr. Hoffman, who commanded 
in the cabin, soon repaired this accident, and a gun of the ene- 
my's that threatened further injury, was disabled. 

As the vessels touched, both parties prepared to board. The 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 259 

English turned all hands up from below, and mustered forward 
with that object, while Mr. Morris, the first lieutenant, with his 
own hands endeavoured to lash the ships together. Mr. Alwyn, 
the master, and Mr. Bush, the lieutenant of marines, were upon 
the taffrail of the Constitution, to be ready to spring. Both 
sides now suffered by the closeness of the musketry ; the Eng- 
lish much the most, however. Mr. Morris was shot through 
the body, the bullet fortunately missing the vitals. Mr. Alwyn 
was wounded in the shoulder, and Mr. Bush fell by a bul- 
let through the head. It being found impossible for either party 
to board, in the face of such a fire, and with the heavy sea that 
was on, the sails were filled, and just as the Constitution shot 
ahead, the foremast of the enemy fell, carrying down with it 
his mainmast, and leaving him wallowing in the trough of the 
sea, a helpless wreck. 

The Constitution now hauled aboard her tacks, ran off a 
short distance, secured her masts, and rove new rigging. At 
7, she wore round, and taking a favourable position for raking, 
a jack that had been kept flying on the stump of the mizzen- 
mast of the enemy, was lowered. Mr. George Campbell 
Read,* the third lieutenant, was sent on board the prize, and 
the boat soon returned with the report that the captured vessel 
was the Guerriere 38, Captain Dacres, one of the ships that 
had so lately chased the Constitution, off New York. 

The Constitution kept waring to remain near her prize, and 
at 2 A. M., a strange sail was seen closing, when she cleared 
for action ; but at three, the stranger stood off. At daylight, 
the officer in charge hailed to say that the Guerriere had four 
feet water in her hold, and that there was danger of her sink- 
ing. On receiving this information, Captain Hull sent all his 
boats to remove the prisoners. Fortunately, the weather was 
moderate, and by noon this duty was nearly ended. At 3 P. 
M., the prize crew was recalled, having set the wreck on fire ; 
and in a quarter of an hour, the Guerriere blew up. Finding 
himself incumbered with wounded prisoners, Captain Hull now 
returned to Boston, where he arrived on the 30th of the same 
month. 

It is not easy, at this distant day, to convey to the reader the 
full force of the moral impression created in America by this 
victory of one frigate over another. So deep had been the ef- 
fect produced on the public mind by the constant accounts of 
the successes of the English over their enemies at sea, that the 



* Commodore Read, late in command of the East India squadron. 



260 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

opinion of their invincibility on that element, already men- 
tioned, generally prevailed ; and it had been publicly predicted, 
that before the contest had continued six months, British sloops 
of war would lie alongside of American frigates with compara- 
tive impunity. Perhaps the only portion of the American 
population that expected different results, was that which com- 
posed the little body of officers on whom the trial would fall, 
and even they looked forward to the struggle with a manly reso- 
lution, rather than with a very confident hope. But the termi- 
nation of the combat just related, very far exceeded the expecta- 
tions of the most sanguine. After making all proper allow- 
ance for the difference of force which certainly existed in fa- 
vour of the Constitution, as well as for the excuses that the 
defeated party freely offered to the world, men on both sides 
of the Atlantic, who were competent to form intelligent opin- 
ions on such subjects, saw the promise of many future suc- 
cesses in this. The style in which the Constitution had been 
handled ; the deliberate and yet earnest manner in which she 
had been carried into battle ; the extraordinary execution that 
had been done in so short a time by her fire ; the readiness 
and gallantry with which she had cleared for action, so soon 
after destroying one British frigate, in which was manifested a 
disposition to meet another, united to produce a deep convic- 
tion of self-reliance, coolness, and skill, that was of infinitely 
more weight than the transient feeling which might result from 
any accidental triumph. 

In this combat, the Constitution suffered a good deal in her 
rigging and sails, but very little, in her hull. Her loss was 
seven killed, and seven wounded. As soon as she had rove 
new rigging, applied the necessary stoppers, and bent a few 
sails, as has been seen, she was ready to engage another fri- 
gate. On the other hand, the Guerriere was completely dis- 
masted, had seventy-nine -killed and wounded, and, according 
to the statement of her commander in his defence, before the 
court which tried him for the loss of his ship, she had received 
no less than thirty shot as low as five sheets of copper beneath 
the bends ! All this execution had been done between the 
time when the ships opened their fire abeam, and the moment 
when the Guerriere's masts fell ; for the few shot thrown by 
the Constitution, previously to the first event, were virtually 
of no use, and, subsequently to the last, she did not discharge 
a gun. The whole period, between the time when the Guer- 
riere commenced her fire at long shot, and that when she ac- 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 261 

tually hauled down her jack, something like two hours was 
included in the enemy's accounts of the duration of the combat; 
but it is well understood by professional men, that in truth the 
battle was decided in about a fourth of that time. 

Captain Dacres lost no professional reputation by his defeat. 
He had handled his ship in a manner to win the applause of 
his enemies, fought her gallantly, and only submitted when 
further resistance would have been nearly impossible. Less 
can be said in favour of the efficiency of the Guerriere's bat- 
teries, which were not equal to the mode of fighting that had 
been introduced by her antagonist, and which, in fact, was 
the commencement of a new era in combats between single 
ships. 

We have dwelt at length on the circumstances connected 
with this action, not only because it was the first serious con- 
flict of the war, but because it was characterised by features 
which, though novel at the time, became identified with nearly 
all the subsequent engagements of the contest, showing that 
they were intimately connected with the discipline and system 
of the American marine. 

Captain Hull having performed the two handsome exploits 
recorded, now gave up the command of his frigate, in order to 
allow others an equal chance to distinguish themselves, there 
being unfortunately many more captains than vessels in the 
navy, at that trying moment. Captain Bainbridge was named 
to be his successor, being transferred from the Constellation 
38, then fitting for sea at Washington, to the Constitution. 

As Captain Bainbridge was one of the oldest officers of his 
rank in the service, he was given a command consisting of his 
own ship, the Essex 32, and the Hornet 18. He hoisted his 
broad pennant on board the Constitution, accordingly, on the 
15th of September, at Boston. Captain Stewart, lately re- 
turned from a furlough, was appointed to the Constellation 38, 
and Mr. Charles Morris, the first lieutenant of the Constitution, 
in the chase and in the battle, was shortly after promoted to 
the rank of captain, passing the step of master-commandant, as 
had been the case with Commodore Decatur. 



262 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Congress did nothing of any moment towards increasing 
the navy, on the ocean, during the year 1812, although war 
was declared in June. This neglect of so important a branch 
of the public service, under circumstances that would seem so 
imperiously to call for the fostering care and active exertions 
of the government, must be ascribed to the doubts that still ex- 
isted as to the possibility of keeping ships at sea, in face of the 
British navy. It had been customary to say, that France, 
whenever she put a ship into the water, was merely building 
for her great enemy ; and an opinion was prevalent, that Ameri- 
ca would be doing the same thing, if she wasted her resources 
in creating a marine ; thus rendering it literally necessary for 
the accomplished officers who composed the germ of the ser- 
vice, to demonstrate, from fact to fact, their ability to maintain 
the honour of the country, before that country would frankly 
confide to them the means. 

Commodore Rodgei-s, having refitted, sailed on a second 
cruise, leaving the Hornet in port ; but Commodore Decatur, 
in the United States 44, and the Argus 16, Captain Sinclair, 
parted company with him, at sea, on the 12th of October, after 
cruising some time without falling in with any thing of im- 
portance. On the 17th, he captured the British packet Swal- 
low, with a large amount of specie on board, and continued 
his cruise to the eastward. In the mean while, the United 
States and Argus having separated, the former stood more to 
the southward and eastward, with a view to get into the track 
of the enemy's Indiamen. Sunday, October 25th, the United 
States, then in lat. 29° N., long. 29° 30' W., made a large 
sail to the southward and eastward. The stranger was run- 
ning down a little free, while the American ship was on a wind, 
standing towards the chase, which was soon ascertained to be 
an enemy. The latter having come within a league, hauled up, 
and passed to windward, when, each party was enabled to see 
that it had a frigate to oppose. The stranger now wore and 
came round on the same tack as the United States, keeping 
away sufficiently to get within reach of her long guns, when 
she hauled up on an easy bowline, with her mizzen-topsail 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 263 

aback. At this moment the distance between the two ships 
a little exceeded a mile, when the Englishman opened his fire. 
Finding the enemy on his weather quarter, Commodore Deca- 
tur delivered his larboard broadside, wore round, and came up 
to the wind on the other tack, heading northerly. It was ob- 
served that all the carronade-shot fell short, the enemy doing 
very little injury by his fire. 

Having passed her antagonist, the United States delivered 
her starboard broadside, and wore again, bringing her head 
once more to the southward, or on the same tack as the ene- 
my, both ships steering rap full, with their mizzen-topsails 
aback, and keeping up a heavy cannonade. In this manner 
the action continued about an hour, the English vessel suffer- 
ing heavily, while her own fire inflicted very little injury on 
her antagonist. At length the stranger's mizzen-mast came 
down over his lee quarter, having been shot away about ten 
feet above the deck. He then fell off, and let his foresail drop, 
apparently with a wish to close. As the ships got near to- 
gether, the shot of the American vessel did fearful execution, 
the fore-course being soon in ribands, the fore and main-top- 
masts over the side, the main-yard cut away in the slings, and 
the foremast tottering. The United States now filled her miz- 
zcn-topsail, gathered fresh way, and tacked. As the stranger 
was drifting down, nearly before the wind, and was almost un- 
manageable, Commodore Decatur had no difficulty in heading 
up high enough to cross his wake, which he handsomely ef- 
fected, with his people still manning the larboard guns. At 
the time the United States filled her mizzen-topsail, in prepa- 
ration for stays, it is said that the enemy, under the impression 
she was about to run away, gave three cheers, and set a union 
jack in his main rigging, all his other flags having come down 
with the several spars. When, however, the American ship 
was seen luffing up to close, the jack was lowered, and resist- 
ance ceased. 

As the United States crossed the stern of the English ship, 
the firing having ceased on both sides, she hailed and demand- 
ed the name of her antagonist, and whether she had submitted. 
To the first interrogatory, Commodore Decatur was answered 
that the ship was the Macedonian 38, Captain Garden, and to 
the second, that the vessel had struck. On taking possession, 
the enemy was found fearfully cut to pieces, having received 
no less than a hundred round shot in his hull alone. Of three 



264 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

hundred men on board him, thirty six were killed, and sixty- 
eight wounded. 

The Macedonian was a very fine ship of her class, mount- 
ing, as usual, 49 guns ; eighteens on her gun-deck, and thirty- 
two-pound carronades above. She was smaller, of lighter 
armament, and had fewer men than her opponent of course, 
but the disproportion between the force of the two vessels, was 
much less than that between the execution. In this action, 
the advantage of position was with the British ship until she 
was crippled, and the combat was little more than a plain can- 
nonade, at a distance that rendered grape or musketry of little 
or no use, for the greater part of the time. The fire of the 
United States took effect so heavily in the waist of her antago- 
nist, that it is said the marines of the latter were removed to 
the batteries, which circumstance increased the efficiency of 
the ship, by enabling new crews to be placed at guns that had 
been once cleared of their men. On the other hand, the ma- 
rines of the United States remained drawn up in the waist of 
that ship, most of the time quite useless, though they are un- 
derstood to have shown the utmost steadiness and good con- 
duct under the example of their gallant commander, the weight 
of the enemy's fire passing a short distance above their heads. 

The United States suffered surprisingly little, considering 
the length of the cannonade, and her equal exposure. She 
lost one of her top-gallant masts, received some wounds in the 
spars, had a good deal of rigging cut, and was otherwise 
injured aloft, but was hulled a very few times. Of her officers 
and people 5 were killed and 7 wounded. Of the latter, two 
died, one of whom was Mr. John Musser Funk, the junior lieu- 
tenant of the ship. No other officer was hurt. 
.. On taking possession of his prize, Commodore Decatur 
found her in a state that admitted of her being taken into port. 
When the necessary repairs were completed, the two ships made 
the best of their way to America ; Commodore Decatur dis- 
continuing the cruise, in order to convoy his prize into port. 
The United States arrived oft' New London on the 4th of De- 
cember, and about the same time the Macedonian got into New- 
port. Shortly after, both ships reached New York by the 
Hell Gate passage. 

The order and style with which the Macedonian was taken, 
added materially to the high reputation that Commodore De- 
catur already enjoyed. His services were acknowledged in 
the usual manner, and he was soon after directed to cruise in 



1812.] NAVAL HI S TO 11 Y. 265 

the United States, with the Macedonian, Captain Jones, in 
company. Mr. Allen, the first lieutenant of the United States, 
was promoted to the rank of a master-commandant, and he 
i^ceived due credit for the steady discipline that the ship's com- 
pany had displayed. 

The Argus, under Captain Sinclair, after separating from 
the United States, cruised alone, making several captures of 
merchantmen, though she met no vessel of war, of a force 
proper for her to engage. 

While these events were in the course of accomplishment, 
the Wasp 18, Captain Jones, left the Delaware on a cruise. 
She was one of the sloops built at the close of the Tripolitan 
war, and like her sister ship the Hornet, a beautiful and 
fast cruiser. The latter, however, which originally was a 
brig, had been rebuilt, or extensively repaired at Washington, 
on which occasion, she had been pierced for twenty guns, and 
rigged into a ship. The Wasp still retained her old armament 
and construction, having been a ship from the first, mounting 
16 thirty-two pound carronades and 2 long twelves. Her com- 
plement of men varied from 130 to 160, according to circum- 
stances. She had been to Europe with despatches before the 
declaration of war, and did not return home until some weeks 
after hostilities had commenced. 

The Wasp, after refitting, sailed on a cruise to the north- 
ward. She ran off Boston, made one capture, and after an ab- 
sence of three weeks, returned to the Delaware. On the 1 3th 
of October, she sailed a second time, and ran off east, southerly, 
to clear the coast, and to get into the track of vessels steering 
north. Three days out it came on to blow very heavily, when 
the ship lost her jib-boom, and two men that were on it at the 
moment. The next day the weather moderated, and about 11 
o'clock in the night of the 17th, being then in latitude 37° N., 
and longitude 65° W., several sail were made. Two of these 
vessels appeared to be large, and Captain Jones did not deem 
it prudent to close, until he had a better opportunity of observ- 
ing them, but hauling off to a convenient distance, he steered 
in the same direction with the unknown vessels, with the in- 
tention of ascertaining their characters in the morning. When 
the day dawned, the strangers were seen ahead, and to lee- 
ward. Making sail to close, they were soon ascertained to be 
a small convoy of six English ships, under the charge of a 
heavy brig of war. Four of the merchantmen were armed, 
apparently, mounting, as well as could be ascertained at that 
23 



266 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

distance, from 12 to 18 guns. The commander of the brig, 
however, manifested no wish to avail himself of the assistance 
of any of his convoy, but shortening sail, the latter passed 
ahead, while he prepared to give battle. 

The Wasp now sent down top-gallant-yards, close reefed her 
topsails, and was otherwise brought under short fighting can- 
vass, there being a good deal of sea on. The stranger was 
under little sail also, and his main yard was on deck, where it 
had been lowered to undergo repairs. As it was the evident 
intention of the Englishman to cover his convoy, very little 
manoeuvring was necessary to bring the vessels alongside of 
each other. At 32 minutes past 11 A. M., the Wasp ranged 
close up on the starboard side of the enemy, receiving her 
broadside, at the distance of about sixty yards, and delivering 
her own. The fire of the Englishman immediately became 
very rapid, it having been thought at the time, that he dis- 
charged three guns to the Wasp's two ; and as the main-topmast 
of the latter ship was shot away within five minutes after the 
action commenced, appearances at first, were greatly in the 
enemy's favour. In eight minutes, the gaff* and mizzen top- 
gallant-mast also fell. But, if the fire of the Wasp was the 
most deliberate, it was much the most deadly. 

In consequence of the fall of the main-topmast of the Ame- 
rican ship, which, with the main-topsail-yard, lodged on the 
fore and fore-topsail braces, it became next to impossible to 
haul any of the yards, had circumstances required it, but the 
battle was continued with great spirit on both sides, until the 
ships had gradually closed so near, that the bends of the Wasp 
rubbed against her antagonist's bows. Here the ships came 
foul, the bowsprit of the enemy passing in over the quarter- 
deck of the Wasp, forcing her bows up into the wind, and en- 
abling the latter to throw in a close raking fire. 

When Captain Jones perceived the effect of the enemy's fire 
on his spars and rigging, he closed with a view to board ; but 
finding his ship in so favourable a position, he countermanded 
an order to that effect, and directed a fresh broadside to be de- 
livered. The vessels were now so near that in loading some 
of the Wasp's guns, the rammers hit against the bows of her 
antagonist, and the people of the Englishman could no longer 
be kept at their quarters forward. The discharge of one or 
two of the carronades swept the enemy's decks, when the im- 
petuosity of the Wasp's crew could no longer be restrained, 
and they began to leap into the rigging, and from thence on 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 2G7 

the bowsprit of the brig. As soon as Mr. Biddle, the first lieu- 
tenant of the Wasp, found that the people were not to be re- 
strained, he sprang into the rigging, followed by Lieutenant G. 
Rodgers and a party of officers and men, and the attempt to 
board was seriously made. On the forecastle of the brig Mr. 
Biddle passed all his own people, but there was no enemy to 
oppose him. Two or three officers were standing aft, most of 
them bleeding. The decks were strewed with killed and wound- 
ed, but not a common hand was at his station ; all those that 
were able having gone below, with the exception of the man 
at the wheel. The latter had maintained his post, with the 
spirit of a seaman, to the last. 

The English officers threw down their swords in token of 
submission, as Mr. Biddle passed aft ; and it ought to be added, 
to the credit of the conquerors, notwithstanding the excitement 
of such scenes are too apt to lead even the disciplined into ex- 
cesses, not an enemy was injured by the boarders. Mr. Bid- 
dle sprang into the main rigging, and lowered the English flag 
with his own hands, when the combat ceased, after a duration 
of 43 minutes. 

The prize turned out to be the British sloop of war Frolic 
18, Captain Whinyates, homeward bound, with the vessels in 
the Honduras trade under convoy. The Frolic, with the ex- 
ception of being a brig, was a vessel of the size and construc- 
tion" of the Wasp. She mounted, on her main deck, 16 thirty- 
two pound carronades, four long guns, differently stated to 
have been sixes, nines, and twelves, and had two twelve-pound 
carronades on a topgallant forecastle. This armament would 
make a force greater than that of the Wasp by four guns, a 
disparity that is not immaterial in vessels so small. The two 
crews were pretty equal in numbers, though it is probable that 
the Wasp may have had a few men the most ; a difference that 
was of little moment under the circumstances, more particu- 
larly as the Frolic was a brig, and the battle was fought, by 
both vessels, under very short sail.* 

The Wasp was cut up aloft to an unusual degree, there hav- 
ing been no question that her antagonist's fire was heavy and 
spirited. The braces and standing-rigging were nearly all 
shot away, and some of the spars that stood were injured. 
She had five men killed, and five wounded. The hull sus- 
tained no great damage. 

* The Wasp's muster-roll, on the morning of the 18th October, con- 
tained the names of 138 persons, all told. 



2G8 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

The Frolic was also much injured in her spars and rigging, 
more particularly in the former ; and the two vessels were 
hardly separated, before both her masts fell. She had been 
hulled at almost every discharge, and was virtually a wreck 
when taken possession of by the Americans. Her loss in 
men was never accurately known, but her captain, first lieu- 
tenant, and master, were wounded ; the two latter mortally. 
Mr. Biddle, who remained in charge of the prize, after so gal- 
lantly boarding her, stated, that as far as he could ascertain, 
she had from 70 to 80 killed and wounded. Subsequent in- 
formation, however, has given reason to believe that the num- 
ber was even greater. Captain Whinyates, in his official re- 
port, states that not 20 of his crew escaped unhurt, which 
would probably raise the casualties to a number between 90 
and 100. 

The Frolic had scarcely submitted, when a large sail was 
seen standing towards the two vessels, evidently a ship of force. 
Instructions were given to Mr. Biddle to make the best of his 
way to Charleston with the prize, and the Wasp began to make 
sail, with an intention to continue her cruise ; but on opening 
her canvass, and turning the reefs out of her topsails, they 
were found to be nearly in ribands. The stranger, which 
turned out to be the enemy's ship Poictiers 74, hove a shot 
over the Frolic, in passing, and ranging up near the Wasp, 
both vessels were captured. The Poictiers proceeded with her 
two prizes to Bermuda, and the Americans, being paroled, soon 
after returned home. 

As this was the first combat of the war between vessels of 
a force so nearly equal as to render cavilling difficult, the re- 
sult occasioned much exultation in America, and greatly in- 
creased the confidence of the public, in supposing an Ameri- 
can ship had quite as many claims to conduct, courage, and 
skill, as a British. Persons of reflection attached but lit- 
tle importance, it is true, to the mere fact that a few cruisers 
had been taken in single combat, but the idea of British invin- 
cibility was destroyed, and vast moral results were distinctly 
foreseen. 

In the published account of the captain of the Frolic, much 
stress was laid on the crippled condition of his ship, when she 
went into action. It is admitted that his vessel had her main- 
yard on deck when she engaged, and, as little canvass was 
required, her after-sail was reduced to her fore-and-aft main- 
sail. There are circumstances in which the loss of a brig's 



1812. NAVAL HISTORY. 2C9 

main-topsail would be of the last importance ; and there are 
circumstances, again, in which it would be of but little mo- 
ment. On this occasion it does not appear to have materially 
influenced the result ; and the very fact that the yard was 
down, may have prevented the mast from falling during the 
engagement, instead of falling after it. On details of this na- 
ture, it is difficult to reason accurately, so much depending on 
minute circumstances, that must escape the general observer. 

Captain Jones was promoted shortly after this success, and 
he was appointed to the command of the Macedonian 38, 
which ship had been purchased and taken into the service. 
The name of Mr. Biddle, who was an old lieutenant, and 
whose spirited conduct in the action was much appreciated, 
was also included in the list of masters and commanders that 
was sent into the senate about the same time. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

When Commodore Bainbridge took command of the three 
vessels that have been already mentioned, the Constitution 44, 
his own ship, and Hornet 18, Captain Lawrence, were lying 
in the port of Boston ; and the Essex 32, Captain Porter, had 
just gone into the Delaware. Orders were sent to the latter 
officer, to rendezvous first at Port Praya, in the island of St. 
Jago ; and secondly at Fernando Noronha. Other places of 
resort were pointed out ; and he was also instructed to cruise 
in the track of the enemy's Indiamen, until a time mentioned, 
when, if he failed to fall in with his senior officer, he was at 
liberty to follow his own discretion. As the Essex never join- 
ed the other ships, we shall defer the account of her cruise, to 
another chapter. 

The Constitution and Hornet sailed from Boston on the 26th 
of October. Touching at the different rendezvous, where they 
appeared in the character of British vessels of war, letters 
were left for Captain Porter, under the assumed name of Sir 
James Yeo, of the Southampton 32, according to arrange- 
ment, and the ships proceeded. 

Commodore Bainbridge arrived off St. Salvador on the 13th 
23 * 



270 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

of December, and the Hornet was sent in to communicate with 
the consul. Captain Lawrence found the British sloop of war 
Bonne Citoyenne 18, Captain Green, in port, but about to 
sail for England, with a very large amount of specie on board. 
The presence of this vessel suggested a hope of being able to 
get her out. After conversing with the consul, that gentleman 
was empowered to inform the commander of the English ship, 
that Captain Lawrence was desirous of meeting him at sea, 
and to give the necessary pledges that the Constitution would 
be out of the way. A correspondence took place between the 
English and American consuls on the subject, and in the end, 
Captain Green declined acceding to the proposal. 

The Constitution left the Hornet to blockade the Bonne 
Citoyenne alone, on the 26th, and stood to the southward, 
keeping the land aboard. About 9 A. M. of the 29th, when in 
lat. 13° 6' S., and long. 31° W., or at a distance of ten leagues 
from the coast, two strange sail were made in-shore and to 
windward. One of these vessels continued to stand in, while 
the other, which was much the largest, altered her course in 
the direction of the American frigate, which had tacked to 
close with her. The day was pleasant, there was but little 
sea, and the wind was light at E. N. E. 

At 11 A. M., being satisfied that the strange sail was an 
enemy's frigate, the Constitution tacked again to the southward 
and eastward, to draw her enemy off the land, which was 
plainly in sight. At the same time, she set her royals, and 
boarded main-tack, in order to effect this object. 

At 12 M. the Constitution showed her colours, and shortly 
after the stranger set the English ensign. Signals were made 
by both ships, but proved to be mutually unintelligible. At 
20 minutes past 1, P. M., believing himself far enough from 
the land, Commodore Bainbridge took in his main-sail and 
royals, and tacked towards the enemy. Soon after, both ships 
had their heads to the southward and eastward, the Englishman 
being to windward more than a mile distant, and well on the 
Constitution's quarter. 

The enemy had now hauled down his ensign, though he 
kept a jack flying, and Commodore Bainbridge ordered a shot 
fired ahead of him, to induce him to show his colours anew. 
This order brought on a general fire, and the battle commenced 
at 2, P. M., on both sides, with a furious cannonade. The 
enemy sailed the best, and in the light wind that prevailed he 
soon forged ahead, keeping away with a view to cross the 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 27i 

Constitution's bow, but was foiled by the latter ship's waring, 
which brought the heads of the two combatants once more to 
the westward. In performing these evolutions, as the enemy- 
steered free, and the Constitution luffed, the vessels got within 
pistol-shot, when the former repeated the same attempt, the 
ships waring together, bringing their heads once more to the 
eastward. The English ship fore-reaching again, now en- 
deavoured to tack to preserve the weather-gage ; but failing, 
she was obliged to ware, a manoeuvre that the Constitution had 
already executed to avoid being raked, for the wheel of the 
latter ship had been shot away, and it was difficult to watch 
the vessel with the helm, as closely as was desirable. The 
Constitution, notwithstanding, was the first in coming to the 
wind on the other tack, and she got an efficient raking fire at 
her opponent. 

Both vessels now ran off free, with the wind on the quarter, 
the English ship still to windward, when the latter being 
greatly injured, made an attempt to close, at 55 minutes past 
2, by running down on the Constitution's quarter. Her jib- 
boom ran into the Constitution's mizzen rigging, in which 
situation she suffered severely, without being able to effect her 
purpose. The head of her bowsprit was soon shot away, and 
in a few minutes after, her foremast came by the board. The 
Constitution shot ahead, keeping away to avoid being raked ; 
in separating, the stump of the enemy's bowsprit passed over 
the American frigate's tatfrail. 

The two ships now brought the wind abeam again, with 
their heads to the eastward, and the Constitution having fore- 
reached, in consequence of carrying the most sail, wore, 
passed her antagonist, luffed up under his quarter, wore again, 
and the Englishman having kept away, the vessels came 
alongside of each other, and engaged for a short time, yard- 
arm and yard-arm. In a iJew minutes the enemy lost his miz- 
zen-mast, leaving nothing standing but his main-mast, with the 
yard shot away near the slings. As his fire had ceased, the 
Constitution hauled aboard her tacks, and luffed athwart her 
antagonist's bow ; passing out of the combat to windward, at 
five minutes past 4, with her topsails, courses, spanker, and jib 
set. In executing this manoeuvre, Commodore Bainbridge was 
under the impression that the enemy had struck, the ensign 
which had been hoisted in his main-rigging being down, his 
ship a wreck, and his fire silenced. 

Having got a favourable weatherly position, the Constitution 



272 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

passed some time in repairing damages, and in securing her 
masts ; it being all-important to an American frigate so far 
from home, without colonies or military stations to repair to, 
and an ocean to traverse that was covered with enemies, to 
look vigilantly to these great auxiliaries. In about an hour, 
observing an ensign still flying on board his enemy, Commo- 
dore Bainbridge wore round, and standing directly across her 
fore-foot, the English vessel anticipated his fire by striking. 

The Constitution immediately wore, with her head on the 
same tack as the captured vessel, hoisted out a boat, and sent 
Mr. Parker, her first lieutenant, to take possession. The prize 
proved to be the British frigate Java 38, Captain Lambert, 
bound to the East Indies, having on board as passengers Lieu- 
tenant General Hislop and staff, together with several super- 
numerary sea-officers, and a considerable number of men 
intended for other ships. 

This combat lasted near two hours, from the commencement 
to the end of the firing, and it had been warmly contested on 
both sides, but with very different results. Although there 
was more manoeuvring than common, the Java had been lite- 
rally picked to pieces by shot, spar following spar, until she 
had not one left. Her foremast was first cut away near the 
cat-harpings, and afterwards, by a double-headed shot, about 
five-and-twenty feet from the deck. The main-topmast went 
early, and the main-mast fell after the Constitution hauled off. 
The mizzen-mast was shot out of the ship, a few feet from the 
deck, and the bowsprit near the cap. Her hull was also 
greatly injured ; and her loss in men, according to the British 
published accounts, was 22 killed and 102 wounded ; though 
there is good reason for supposing it was considerably greater. 
Commodore Bainbridge stated it at 60 killed and 101 wounded. 
There may have been some discrepancy in these statements, 
in consequence of the great number of supernumeraries on 
board the Java, which ship is said to have had more than 400 
men in her when taken, or quite 100 more than her regular 
complement.* Captain Lambert, of the Java, was mortally 

* The British accounts state the crew of the Java at 377 men, includ- 
ing supernumeraries. Commodore Bainbridge reports that he furloughed 
361 officers, seamen, marines, and boys, exclusively of 8 passengers and 
9 Portuguese seamen, making 378 souls. If to these be added the 22 
allowed to be killed by the enemy, a total of just 400 is obtained. But it 
is said that a muster-list, made five days after the Java sailed, contained 
just 446 names. 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 273 

wounded ; and one of hex* lieutenants, the master, and many 
of her inferior officers, were slain, or seriously hurt. 

The Constitution did not lose a spar. She went into action 
with her royal-yards across, and came out of it with all three 
of them in their places. An eighteen-pound shot passed 
through the mizzen-mast ; the fore-mast was slightly wounded, 
and the main-mast was untouched. The main-topmast was 
also slightly wounded; a few other spars were hit, without 
being carried away ; the running rigging was injured a good 
deal ; several shrouds were cut, and the ship received a few 
round-shot in her hull. Of her crew, 9 were killed, and 25 
were wounded. Among the latter were Commodore Bain- 
bridge, and the junior lieutenant, Mr. Alwyn. The last died 
of his injuries, some time after the action. Commodore Bain- 
bridge was slightly hurt in the hip, early in the engagement, 
by a musket-ball ; and the shot that carried away the wheel, 
drove a small copper bolt into his thigh, inflicting a dangerous 
wound, though he kept the deck until midnight. 

Although the injuries to the hull of the Java were not of a 
nature to render her being carried into port difficult, the 
smoothness of the sea having prevented her from receiving 
many shot below the water-line, there existed many objections 
to attempting it. In the first place, it was known that the 
Brazilian government was favourable to that of Great Britain, 
and there had been strong proof of it during the recent visit 
of Commodore Bainbridge to St. Salvador. That officer, 
therefore felt a hesitation about trusting his prize in a Bra- 
zilian port. The difficulty of obtaining masts of the neces- 
sary size, the distance from home, and the risks of recapture, 
on nearing the coast, united to render it expedient to destroy 
her. After lying by her two or three days, therefore, with a 
view to remove the wounded with proper care, the Java was 
blown up, and the Constitution made the best of her way to 
St. Salvador, where she immediately landed her prisoners on 
parole. 

The same general peculiarities attended this combat, as had 
distinguished the two other cases of frigate actions. In all 
three, the American vessels were superior to their antagonists ; 
but in all three, had the difference in execution been greatly 
out of proportion to the disparity in force. The Java, like 
the Guerriere, had been well handled, but her fire had been 
badly aimed. It would seem that the Constitution actually 
wore six times, after the action had fairly commenced ; and 



274 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

allowing for the positions of the ships, the lightness of the 
wind, and the space that it was necessary to run, in order to 
avoid being raked while executing these evolutions, it is pro- 
bable that the cannonade did not actually occupy an hour. 
The action must have terminated some miles to leeward of the 
spot where it commenced. 

On reaching St. Salvador, Commodore Bainbridge found the 
Hornet off the port, and it was understood that the Bonne 
Citoyenne had hove-short, with an intention of going to sea 
that night. The arrival of the Constitution appears to have 
produced a change in this plan, if it ever existed. Remaining 
a few days in port to land his prisoners, and to complete his 
arrangements, Commodore Bainbridge sailed for America, 
January 6, 1813, and arrived at Boston on the 27th of Feb- 
ruary, after an absence of four months. 

The Hornet was left with orders substantially discretionary. 
She remained off St. Salvador, blockading the Bonne Citoyenne, 
alone, for eighteen days, when she was chased into the har- 
bour by the Montagu 74, which vessel had come to relieve the 
enemy's sloop of war from the awkward necessity of fighting 
with so much treasure on board, or of the still more unpleas- 
ant dilemma of appearing indisposed to meet a ship of equal 
force. It was late in the evening when the Montagu ap- 
proached, and the Hornet availed herself of the darkness to 
ware and stand out again, passing into the offing without fur- 
ther molestation. 

Captain Lawrence now hauled by the wind, to the north- 
ward and eastward, with the intention of going off Pernam- 
buco. He made a hw prizes, and continued cruising up the 
coast, until the 24th of February, when the ship was near the 
mouth of Demarara river. Here he gave chase to a brig, 
which drew him into quarter-less-five, when, having no pilot, 
he deemed it prudent to haul off* shore. At this moment he 
supposed himself to be about two and a half leagues from the 
fort at the entrance of the river. Just without the bar, an- 
other brig was seen. As she had an English ensign set, and 
bore every appearance of being a man-of-war, it was deter- 
mined to attack her. While the Hornet was beating round the 
Carobana bank, which lay between her and the enemy, with a 
view to get at him, another sail was made on her weather quar- 
ter, edging down towards her. It was now half past 3 P. M., 
and the Hornet continuing to turn to windward, with her ori- 
ginal intention, by twenty minutes past 4 the second stranger 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 275 

was made out to be a large man-of-war brig. Shortly after 
he showed English colours. 

As soon as her captain was satisfied that the vessel ap- 
proaching was an enemy, the Hornet was cleared for action, 
and her people went to quarters. The ship was kept close by 
the wind, in order to gain the weather-gage, the enemy still 
running free. At 5 10, feeling certain that he could weather 
the Englishman, Captain Lawrence showed his colours and 
tacked. The two vessels were now standing towards each 
other, with their heads different ways, both close by the wind. 
They passed within half pistol-shot at 5 25, delivering their 
broadsides as the guns bore ; each vessel using the larboard 
battery. As soon as they were clear, the Englishman put his 
helm hard up, with the intention to ware short round, and get 
a raking fire at the Hornet ; but the manoeuvre was closely 
watched and promptly imitated, and, firing his starboard guns, 
he was obliged to right his helm, as the Hornet was coming 
down on his quarter, in a perfect blaze of fire. The latter 
closed, and maintaining the admirable position she had taken, 
poured in her shot with such vigour, that a little before 5 40, 
the enemy not only lowered his ensign, but he hoisted it union 
down, in the fore-rigging, as a signal of distress. His main- 
mast soon after fell. 

Mr. J. T. Shubrick was sent on board to take possession. 
This officer soon returned with the information that the prize 
was the enemy's sloop of war Peacock 18, Captain Peake, and 
that she was fast sinking, having already six feet of water in 
her hold. Mr. Conner, the third lieutenant of the Hornet, and 
Mr. B.' Cooper, one of her midshipmen, were immediately des- 
patched with boats, to get out the wounded, and to endeavour 
to save the vessel. It was too late for the latter, though every 
exertion was made. Both vessels were immediately anchored, 
guns were thrown overboard, shot-holes plugged, and recourse 
was had to the pumps, and even to bailing ; but the short twi- 
light of that low latitude left the prize-crew, before the prisoners 
could be removed. In the hurry and confusion of such a 
scene, and while the boats of the Hornet were absent, four of 
the Englishmen lowered the stern boat of the Peacock, which 
had been thought too much injured to be used, jumped into it, 
and pulled for the land, at the imminent risk of their lives.* 

Mr. Conner became sensible that the brig was in momentary 

* These adventurers got ashore safely. 



276 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

danger of sinking, and he endeavoured to collect the people re- 
maining on board, in the Peacock's launch, which still stood 
on deck, the fall of the main-mast, and the want of time, hav- 
ing prevented an attempt to get it into the water. Unfortunately, 
a good many of the Peacock's people were below, rummaging 
the vessel, and when the brig gave her last wallow it was too 
late to save them. 

The Peacock settled very easily but suddenly, in five and a 
half fathoms water, and the two American officers, with most 
of the men, and several prisoners, saved themselves in the 
launch, though not without great exertions. Three of the 
Hornet's people went down in the brig, and nine of the Pea- 
cock's were also drowned. Four more of the latter saved 
themselves by running up the rigging into the foretop, which 
remained out of water, after the hull had got to the bottom. 
The launch had no oars, and it was paddled by pieces of 
boards towards the Hornet, when it was met by one of the cut- 
ters of that ship, which was returning to the brig. The cutter 
immediately pulled towai'ds the Peacock's fore-mast, in the 
hope of finding some one swimming ; but, with the exception 
of those in the top, no person was saved. 

In this short encounter, the Peacock had her captain and 
four men killed, and thirty-three wounded. The Hornet had 
one man killed, and two wounded, in addition to two men badly 
burned by the explosion of a cartridge. She suffered a good 
deal aloft, had one shot through the foremast, and the bowsprit 
was hit. 

The Peacock was a vessel of the Hornet's size, being a little 
shorter, but having more beam. Her proper armament was 
thirty-twos, but, for some reason that is not known, it had 
been changed for lighter guns, and in the action she mounted 
16 twenty-four pound carronades, 2 light long guns, a twelve 
pound carronade on her topgallant forecastle, and another light 
long gun aft. By her quarter-bill, she had 130 men on board, 
at the time she was taken. This force rendered her inferior 
to the Hornet, which ship mounted 18 thirty-two pound car- 
ronades and two long twelves. The Hornet in the action 
mustered 135 men fit for duty. 

Notwithstanding the superiority of the Hornet, the same dis- 
parity between the execution and the difference in force, is to 
be seen in this action, as in those already mentioned. In al- 
lowing the Hornet to get the weather- gage, the Peacock was 
out-manoeuvred ; but, with this exception, she is understood to 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. ^77 

have been well managed, though her gunnery was defective. 
The only shot that touched the hull of the Hornet, was one 
fired as the latter ship was falling off, in waring ; it merely 
glanced athwart her bows, indenting a plank beneath the cat- 
head. As this shot must have been fired from a starboard 
gun of the Peacock, the fact demonstrates how well she was 
handled ; and that, in waring, her commander had rightly esti- 
mated and judiciously used the peculiar powers of a brig, 
though the quick movements of his antagonist deprived him of 
the result he had expected, and immediately gave the Hornet 
a decided advantage in position. It would be cavilling to deny 
that this short combat was decided by the superior gunnery 
and rapid handling of the Hornet. 

As the brig at anchor might come out and attack her, the 
greatest exertions were made on board the Hornet to be in 
readiness to receive the enemy, and by 9 o'clock at night, new 
sails had been bent, her boats were stowed, the ship was 
cleared, and every thing was ready for another action. At 2 
A. M., she got under way, and stood to the northward and 
westward, under easy sail. Captain Lawrence finding that he 
had now 277 souls on board, including the people of another 
prize, and that he was short of water, determined to return 
home. The allowance of water was reduced to three pints a 
man, and the ship ran through the West-Indies, anchoring at 
Holmes's Hole, in Martha's Vineyard, on the 19th of March; 
whence she came through the Vineyard and Long Island 
Sounds to New York without meeting an enemy. 

The successes of the Constitution and Hornet, two of the 
vessels of Commodore Bainbridge's squadron, served greatly 
to increase the popularity of the navy. Their commanders 
were rewarded with medals, swords, and votes of thanks, by 
different legislatures ; and Captain Lawrence was promoted, 
and transferred to the command of the Chesapeake. 

Congress, by this time, began to feel more confidence in the 
ability to withstand British prowess, and a law had been passed 
on the 2d of January, to increase the naval force of the coun- 
try. By the provisions of this act, the President was empow- 
ered to build four ships to rate not less than seventy-four guns, 
and six ships to rate at forty-four guns each. This was at 
once multiplying the force of the navy tenfold, and it may be 
esteemed the first step that was ever actually put in execution, 
towards establishing a marine that might prove of material 
moment, in influencing the results of a war. Measures were 
24 



278 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

taken immediately to lay the keels of some of the ships of the 
line, and Commodore Bainbridge, being appointed to superin- 
tend the construction of one of them, relinquished the com- 
mand of the Constitution. 

Another law passed, on the 3d of March, directing six sloops 
of war to be built on the sea-board, and authorising the construc- 
tion of as many vessels on the lakes as the public service re- 
quired. Congress also voted handsome sums to the officers 
and crews of the ships that had destroyed captured vessels of 
war, in the way of prize-money. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

When Commodore Bainbridge sailed from Boston, the Es- 
sex, still under the command of Captain Porter, was lying in 
the Delaware. She quitted that river the 28th of October, or 
two days after the other ships of the squadron had got to sea. 

The Essex was singularly unfortunate in not falling in with 
an enemy of any sort for several weeks, and on the 11th of 
December, she crossed the equator in longitude 30° W., the 
same bad luck attending her. On the 12th, however, about 2 
P. M., a vessel was seen to windward, which had every ap- 
pearance of an enemy's man-of-war brig. At six, the stranger 
began to show signals, which went to confirm the idea of his 
character. As the chase was still to windward, and night 
was coming on fast, an unsuccessful effort was made to decoy 
her down, by making signals in return. At sunset the brig 
showed English colours, and, when it was sufficiently dark, she 
made some night-signals. By 9 P. M. the Essex succeeded in 
getting within musket-shot. Captain Porter soon after hailed, 
and ordered the brig to settle her topsails, haul up her courses, 
and to heave-to to windward. At the same time orders were 
given to the different divisions not to fire into the stranger, as 
it was very desirable to get possession without doing him any 
injury. Instead of complying with the directions of Captain 
Porter, however, the brig endeavoured to cross the stern of the 
Essex, by keeping away, probably with an intention to rake 
her, and to escape to leeward. This drew a volley of mus- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 279 

ketry from the frigate, which killed one man, when the brig 
struck. 

The prize was the British government packet Nocton 10, 
with a crew of 31 men. On board of her were found $55,000 
in specie. The next day a crew of 17 men was put into the 
Nocton, under the orders of Acting Lieutenant Finch, who was 
instructed to make the best of his way to America. This offi- 
cer had got between Bermuda and the Capes of Virginia, in 
the execution of his duty, when he was compelled to heave-to 
in a gale. Just as the weather moderated, a British frigate was 
made to windward. Mr. Finch tried the sailing of the brig 
with the enemy, on different tacks, but finally put away dead 
before the wind, as the only means of escape. As it was not 
in the power of the prize-crew to make sail with sufficient 
rapidity to compete with a frigate's complement of men, the 
Nocton was soon within reach of the enemy's guns, and a few 
shot were fired, which did some injury to her rigging. Mr. 
Finch, however, held on, until the enemy had got close upon 
his quarter, and was about to fire a volley of musketry, when, 
escape being hopeless, he struck. Thus did the Essex lose 
her first prize, though the specie had been taken out of her, 
and was rendered secure by being subsequently used on ac- 
count of the government. 

On the 14th, the Essex made the island of Fernando de No- 
ronha, and communicated with the land, without going in. 
Here Captain Porter obtained the letter from Commodore Bain- 
bridge, informing him that he would find the other vessels off 
Cape Frio. From this time, until the 25th, the ship was mak- 
ing her passage towards the coast ; on the afternoon of that 
day, she hove-to off the pitch of the Cape, where no signs were 
to be seen of the Constitution or Hornet. Three days after- 
wards, in fact, the first of these vessels captured the Java off 
St. Salvador. After cruising a short time, at this rendezvous, 
the Essex was drawn a long distance to leeward in chase ; and 
in attempting to beat up again to her station, she was met by 
heavy weather, which induced Captain Porter to change his 
cruising ground. On the morning of the 29th, the frigate cap- 
tured an English merchant vessel, which proved to be one of 
a convoy of six sail, in charge of a man-of-war schooner, that 
had left Rio the night previously, this vessel having put back 
in consequence of discovering a leak. On obtaining this intel- 
ligence, Captain Porter followed on the track of the convoy, 
and after a long and fruitless chase, he determined to go off 



280 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

St. Salvador, in order to intercept it. While beating up with 
this intention, information was received from different Portu- 
guese vessels, of the presence of the other ships of the squadron 
off the port, and renewed efforts were made to join. But strong 
northerly winds prevailed, and Captain Porter, after struggling 
with them a week, decided to run into St. Catherine's to water. 

Having been disappointed in his attempts to fall in with the 
commodore, at three rendezvous, and ascertaining that the Mon- 
tagu 74, had sailed from Rio to raise the blockade of the ves- 
sels at St. Salvador, Captain Porter was greatly at a loss which 
way to steer, in order to join the other ships. It was near the 
end of January, 1813, and, in point of fact, the Constitution 
had left the coast on the 6 th of that month, on her way home. 
As the Hornet followed her on the 24th, in determining to act 
for himself, during the remainder of the cruise, Captain Porter 
came to a happy decision. 

The Essex left St. Catherine's on the 26th of January, 1813, 
for the Pacific Ocean, and after a most tempestuous passage 
round the Horn, she fell in with the pleasant southwest breezes 
of that sea on the 5th of March, and at meridian of that day 
her people got a distant view of the Andes. On the 5th, she 
anchored at the island of Mocha. 

The Essex was now fairly in the Pacific, though she had 
not fallen in with an enemy for two months. There was but 
one chart of the ocean in the ship, and that was very small 
and imperfect ; the provisions were getting short, and the ves- 
sel was much in want of cordage. Notwithstanding these ne- 
cessities, Captain Porter felt reluctant to let his arrival be 
known until he made a few captures, hoping to supply his ship 
from prizes. Anxious to obtain information of the British force, 
by the same means, he determined to cruise a short time before 
he proceeded to Valparaiso. An ill fortune, however, continued 
to prevail, and for many days the ship was enveloped in fogs. 
She continued standing along shore, to the northward ; and on 
the 13th, while running before a stiff southerly breeze, she 
rounded the Point of Angels, shot into full view of the port and 
town of Valparaiso, and was becalmed under the guns of a 
battery. 

As he had English colours flying, Captain Porter came to a 
conclusion not to go in, for, taking a survey of the shipping in 
port, and perceiving several Spaniards ready to sail, he thought 
it prudent to let them get to sea before the arrival of an Ameri- 
can cruiser became known in the place. The ship's head was 



1813.J NAVAL HISTORY. 281 

consequently kept to the northward, and the breeze striking 
her again, she ran the town out of sight in an hour or two. 
On the 15th, however, the ship returned, made the Point of 
Angels once more, went in, and anchored. 

To the astonishment of Captain Porter, he now ascertained 
that Chili had declared itself independent of Spain, and his re- 
ception was as favourable as he could have desired. He also 
learned that the Viceroy of Peru had sent out cruisers against 
the American shipping, and that his appearance in the Pacific 
was of the greatest importance to the American trade, which 
lay at the mercy of the English letters of marque, and of these 
Peruvian corsairs. This was cheering intelligence, after the 
fatigues and disappointments of a cruise of so many months. 

For more than a week the Essex was employed in victual- 
ling. During this time an American whaler came in from the 
islands. According to the accounts of her master, the Ameri- 
can whalers, which had left home during a time of peace, lay 
entirely at the mercy of those of the enemy ; several of which 
had sailed as regular letters of marque, and all of which were 
more or less armed. Many of the American vessels, as they 
often kept the sea six months at a time, were probably still ig- 
norant of the war ; and it was known that one of them, at 
least, had already fallen into the hands of the English. As 
soon as imperfectly victualled, the frigate went to sea, to profit 
by this intelligence. 

On the 25th, the Essex fell in with the American whale 
ship Charles, and learned that two other vessels, the Walker 
and Barclay, had been captured a few days previously, off 
Coquimbo, by a Peruvian, with an English ship in company. 
Sail was made, in consequence, in the direction of Coquimbo, 
and, a few hours later, a stranger was seen to the northward. 
This vessel was soon ascertained to be a cruising ship, dis- 
guised as a whaler. She showed Spanish colours, when the 
Essex set an English ensign, fired a gun to leeward, and the 
Charles, which remained in company, hoisted the American flag 
beneath an English jack. The Spaniard now ran down, and, 
when about a mile distant, he fired a shot ahead of the Essex, 
which that ship answered by throwing a few shot over him, to 
bring him nearer. When close enough, the Spanish ship sent 
an armed boat to board the Essex, and it was directed to go 
back with an order for the cruiser to run under the frigate's 
lee, and to send an officer to apologize for the shot she had 
fired at an English man-of-war. This command was com- 
24* 



282 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

plied with, and the ship was ascertained to be the Peruvian pri- 
vateer Nei'eyda, armed with 15 guns, and with a full crew. 
The lieutenant, who now came on board, informed Captain 
Porter that they were cruising for Americans ; that they had 
already taken the Walker and the Barclay ; that the English 
letter of marque Nimrod had driven their prize-crew from on 
board the Walker ; that they were then cruising expressly to 
look for the Nimrod, with the intention of obtaining redress ; 
and that they had mistaken the Essex for the latter ship. It 
would seem that the Peruvians cruised against the Americans, 
under the impression that Spain, then so dependent on Eng- 
land for her existence, would declare war speedily against the 
United States, in consequence of the war declared by the latter 
against the King of Great Britain, which might legalise their 
captures. 

An interview with the master of the Walker satisfied Cap- 
tain Porter that the captured ships had been illegally seized ; and 
hoisting American colours, he fired two shots over the Nereyda, 
when that vessel struck. Her crew were all sent on board the 
Essex, and the three ships stood in-shore to look into Coquimbo, 
in the hope of finding the Nimrod and the prizes, but without suc- 
cess. The next morning, the entire armament of the Nereyda, 
with all her ammunition, shot, small-arms, and light sails, 
were thrown overboard, and she was otherwise put in a condi- 
tion to do no harm, when she was released. It is worthy of 
remark, that the guns of this vessel were of iron, while her 
shot of all descriptions were of copper ; the abundance of the 
latter material in that part of the world, rendering it cheaper 
than the metal usually employed for such purposes. 

From the master and crew of the Barclay, Captain Porter 
obtained a list of such of the whaling vessels as they knew to 
be in the Pacific. It contained the names of twenty-three Ame- 
rican, and of ten English ships. The former was probably 
the most correct, as his informants added that quite twenty 
Englishmen were thought to be in that sea. The latter were, 
in general, fine vessels of near 400 tons burthen, and, as has 
been said already, they were all more or less armed. 

On the 28th of April, the ship was up with the island of 
San Gallan, when she hauled off to the northward and west- 
ward, with a view to cross the track of inward-bound vessels. 
The next day, three sail were made, standing for Callao. 
Every thing was set to cut the strangers off, particularly the 
one nearest in, which had the appearance of the Barclay. The 



1813] NAVAL HISTORY. 283 

chase, however, would have escaped, had she not been be- 
calmed when she doubled the point of San Lorenzo. At this 
moment the frigate was near a league distant, but, fortunately, 
she kept the breeze until she had got within a hundred yards 
of the enemy, when she lowered her boats, and took posses- 
sion. The prize proved to be the Barclay, as had been ex- 
pected. There was now a good opportunity of looking into 
the harbour, and finding that nothing had arrived from Valpa- 
raiso to disclose his presence in the Pacific, Captain Porter 
showed English colours, while the Barclay hoisted the Ameri- 
can under the enemy's ensign. In this manner both vessels 
went into the offing, where the Barclay was given up to her 
proper officers, though most of her crew having entered in the 
Essex, and declining to rejoin the ship, her master preferred 
keeping in company with the frigate, offering to act as a pilot 
in searching for the enemy. With this understanding, the two 
vessels stretched off to the northward and westward. 

From the end of March until the middle of April, the Essex, 
with the Barclay in company, was standing across from the 
main towards the islands, and on the 17th she made Chatham 
Island ; but no ship was found there. From this place the fri- 
gate went to Charles's Island, where she had the same want of 
success. At the latter island, however, was a box called " the 
post-office," in which the masters of the whalers were accus- 
tomed to leave written accounts of their luck and movements, 
and much information was obtained from them, concerning the 
different ships in the Pacific. 

The Essex continued passing from island to island, without 
meeting with any thing, until her crew was aroused by the 
cheering cry of " sail ho !" on the morning of the 29th. A 
ship was made to the westward, and, soon after, two more a 
little further south. Chase was given to the first vessel, which 
was spoke under English colours, about 9 A. M. She proved 
to be the British whale-ship Montezuma, with 1400 barrels of 
oil on board. Throwing a crew into the prize, the Essex next 
made sail after the two other ships, which had taken the alarm, 
and endeavoured to escape. At 11 A. M., when the frigate 
was about eight miles from the two strangers, it fell calm, and 
the boats were hoisted out and sent against the enemy, under 
Mr. Downes, the first lieutenant. About 2 P. M. the party got 
within a mile of the nearest ship, when the two strangers, who 
were a quarter of a mile apart, hoisted English colours, and 
fired several guns. The boats now formed, and pulled for the 



284 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

largest ship, which kept training her guns on them as they ap- 
proached, but struck without firing a shot, just as the boarders 
were closing. The second vessel imitated her example, when 
attacked in the same manner. 

The prizes were the Georgiana and the Policy, both 
whalers ; and the three ships, together, furnished the Essex 
with many important supplies. They had bread, beef, pork, 
cordage, water, and among other useful things, a great number 
of Gallapagos tortoises. 

The Georgiana had been built for the service of the English 
East India Company, and having the reputation of being a fast 
vessel, Captain Porter determined to equip her as a cruiser, 
with the double purpose of having an assistant in looking for 
the enemy, and of possessing a consort to receive his own crew 
in the event of any accident's occurring to the Essex. This 
ship was pierced for 18 guns, and had 6 mounted when taken. 
The Policy was also pierced for the same number, and had 10 
guns mounted. The latter were now added to the armament 
of the Georgiana, which gave her 16 light guns. All the 
small-arms were collected from the prizes and put in her, her 
try-works were taken down, and other alterations made, when 
Mr. Downes was placed in command, with a crew of 41 men. 
By this arrangement, it was believed that the Georgiana would 
be fully able to capture any of the English letters of marque, 
known to be cruising among the islands. In consequence of 
these changes, and the manning of the two other prizes, not- 
withstanding several enlistments, the crew of the Essex was 
reduced to 264 souls, officers included. On the 8th of May, the 
Georgiana 16, Lieutenant-Commandant Downes, hoisted the 
American pennant, and fired a salute of 17 guns. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

A few trials proved that the Georgiana could not hold way 
with the Essex, and that her reputation, as a fast vessel, was 
unmerited. Still, as she had been relieved from much of her 
lumber, she outsailed the other ships, and hopes were enter- 
tained of her being made useful. Accordingly, on the 12th, 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 285 

she parted company, with ox'ders to cruise against the enemy, 
and to rendezvous at different places on the coast, as well as 
at various islands, in a regular succession as to time. The se- 
paration was not long, however, the Georgiana looking into 
Charles's Island, in quest of English vessels, at a moment 
when the Essex happened to he thex*e on the same errand. 

The Georgiana was now sent to Albemarle Island, Captain 
Porter having reason to suppose that a particular ship of the 
enemy was in that quarter. The Essex continued in the vici- 
nity of Charles's Island, capturing the Atlantic, of 355 tons, 
24 men, and 8 guns, on the evening of the 28th of May. The 
same night she took the Greenwich, of 338 tons, 10 guns, and 
28 men. These several captures nearly stripped the frigate 
of her officers, and she sailed for Tumbez, where she arrived 
on the 19th of June. 

While cruising near James's Island, Mr. Downes had cap- 
tured the British whale ships the Catherine, of 270 tons, 8 
guns, and 29 men, and the Rose, of 220 tons, 8 guns, and 21 
men. These two vessels were taken with no resistance, their 
masters having come on board the Georgiana, without sus- 
pecting her character. After manning his prizes, Mr. Downes 
had but 20 men and boys left in the Georgiana, when he 
chased and closed with a third whaler, called the Hector, a 
ship of 270 tons, 25 men, and 11 guns, though pierced for 20. 
At this time, Mr. Downes had also 50 prisoners, most of whom 
he was compelled to put in irons, before he brought the Hector 
to action. When within hail, the latter ship was ordered to 
haul down her colours, but refused, and the Georgiana opened 
a fire upon her. A sharp combat followed, when the Hector 
struck, with the loss of her maintopmast, having had most of 
her standing and running rigging shot away. She had also 
two men killed, and six wounded. 

After manning the Hector, Mr. Downes had but 10 men left 
in the Georgiana ; and, including the wounded, he had 73 
prisoners. The Rose being a dull ship, he threw overboard 
her guns, and most of her cargo, and, paroling his prisoners, 
he gave her up to them, on condition that they should sail di- 
rect for St. Helena. As soon as this arrangement was made, 
he made sail for Tumbez, to join the Essex, at which port he 
arrived on the 24th of June. 

The little fleet now amounted to nine sail, and there was an 
opportunity to make new arrangements. The Atlantic being 
nearly 100 tons larger than the Georgiana, as well as a much 



286 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

faster ship, besides possessing, in a greater degree, every ma- 
terial quality for a cruiser, Mr. Dovvnes and his crew were 
transferred to her. Twenty guns were mounted in this new 
sloop of war ; she was named the Essex Junior, and manned 
with 60 men. The Greenwich was also converted into a store- 
ship, and all the spare stores of the other vessels were sent on 
board her. She was also armed with 20 guns, though her 
crew was merely strong enough to work her. 

On the 30th the fleet sailed, the Essex and Essex Junior 
keeping in company, with all the carpenters at work at the 
latter. On the 4th of July a general salute was fired, princi- 
pally with the guns and ammunition of the enemy. On the 
9th, the Essex Junior parted company, bound to Valparaiso, 
with the Hector, Catherine, Policy, and Montezuma, prizes, 
and the Barclay, recaptured ship, under convoy. 

As soon as out of sight of the other ships, the Essex, Green- 
wich, and Georgiana steered to the westward, with an inten- 
tion of going among the Gallapagos. On the 13th, three sail 
were made off Banks' Bay, all on a wind, and a good deal 
separated. The Essex gave chase to the one in the centre, 
which led her down to leeward, leaving the Greenwich and 
Georgiana a long distance astern and to windward. While 
the frigate was thus separated from her prizes, one of the 
strangers tacked, and endeavoured to cut the latter off, but the 
Greenwich hove-to, got a portion of the people out of the 
Georgiana, and bore down boldly on her adversary ; while the 
Essex continued after the vessel she was chasing, which she 
soon captured. This ship was the English whaler Charlton, 
of 274 tons, 10 guns, and 21 men. Throwing a crew into 
her, the frigate immediately hauled her wind. 

It was now ascertained from the prisoners, that the largest 
of the strange ships was the Seringa patam, of 357 tons, 14 
guns, and near 40 men ; and the smallest, the New Zealander, 
of 259 tons, 8 guns, and 23 men. The Seringapatam had 
been built for a cruiser, and she was probably the most dan- 
gerous vessel to the American trade to the westward of Cape 
Horn. Captain Porter felt a corresponding desire to get pos- 
session of her, and was much gratified with the bold manner 
in which the Greenwich had borne down on her. This ship 
was under the command of a very young officer, but he had 
the advice of one of the sea-lieutenants, who was under sus- 
pension, and who behaved with great gallantry and spirit on 
this occasion. Closing with the Seringapatam, the Essex be- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 287 

ing a long distance to leeward, the Greenwich brought her to 
action, and after a few broadsides the English ship struck. 
Soon after, however, and before possession could be taken, she 
made an attempt to escape by passing to windward, in which 
she was frustrated by the perseverance of the Greenwich, 
which vessel kept close on the enemy's quarter, maintaining a 
spirited fire, for the number of men on board. As the Essex 
was coming up fast, the Seringapatam finally gave up the at- 
tempt, and running down to the frigate, again submitted. 

In this affair, as in that of the boats, and in the capture of 
the Hector by the Georgiana, the officers and men engaged 
merited high encomiums for their intrepidity and coolness. 
The Greenwich, after obtaining the hands from the Georgiana, 
did not probably muster five-and-twenty men at quarters, and 
the Seringapatam was much the better ship. The New Zea- 
lander was taken without any difficulty. 

The Seringapatam had made one prize, her master having 
turned his attention more to cruising than to whaling. On 
inquiry, notwithstanding, it was found that he had adopted this 
course in anticipation of a commission, having actually sailed 
without one. When this fact was ascertained, Captain Por- 
ter put the master in irons, and he subsequently sent him to 
America to be tried. Finding himself embarrassed with his 
prisoners, Captain Porter gave the Charlton up to them, and 
suffered them to proceed to Rio de Janeiro, under parole. He 
then took the guns out of the New Zealander, and mounted 
them in the Seringapatam, by which means he gave the latter 
ship an armament of 22 guns, though, as in the case of the 
Greenwich, her people were barely sufficient to work her. 

On the 25th of July, the Georgiana was despatched to the 
United States with a full cargo of oil. As soon as the vessels 
separated, the Essex, with the Greenwich, Seringapatam, and 
New Zealander in company, shaped her course for Albemarle 
Island. On the morning of the 28th, another strange sail was 
discovered ; but as she had a fresh breeze, and the frigate was 
becalmed, she was soon out of sight. When the wind came, 
however, the Essex ran in a direction to intercept the stran- 
ger ; and the next morning he was again seen, from the mast- 
head, standing across the Essex's bows, on a bowline. As 
the wind was light, recourse was now had to the drags, and the 
ship got within four miles of the chase, which was evidently 
an enemy's whaler. The stranger becoming alarmed, got his 
boats ahead to tow, when Captain Porter sent a gig and whale- 



288 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

boat, with a few good marksmen in them, under Acting Lieu- 
tenant M'Knight, with orders to take a position ahead of the 
chase, and to drive in her boats, but on no account to attempt 
to board. This duty was handsomely executed, though the 
boats had great difficulty in maintaining their position within 
musket-shot, as the enemy got two guns on his forecastle, and 
kept up a warm discharge of grape. 

At 4 P. M., the ships were little more than a league apart, 
perfectly becalmed, and Captain Porter ordered the boats into 
the water, to carry the stranger by boarding. As the party 
drew near, the enemy commenced firing, but, intimidated by 
their steady and orderly approach, he soon lowered his ensign. 
The boats were about to take possession, when a breeeze from 
the eastward suddenly striking the English ship, she hauled 
up close on a wind, hoisted her colours again, fired at the gig 
and whale-boat as she passed quite near, them, and went off, 
at a rapid rate, to the northward. The party attempted to fol- 
low, but it was sunset before the Essex got the wind, and, un- 
willing to leave her boats out in the darkness, she was com- 
pelled to heave-to, at 9, in order to hoist them in. The next 
morning the chase was out of sight. 

This was the first instance, since her arrival in the Pacific, 
in which the Essex had failed in getting alongside of a chase 
that she did not voluntarily abandon. It produced much mor- 
tification, though the escape of the enemy was owing to one 
of those occurrences, so common in summer, that leave one 
ship without a breath of air, while another, quite near her, has 
a good breeze. 

On the 4th of August, the ships went into James's Island 
and anchored. Here Captain Porter made the important dis- 
covery that a large portion of his powder had been damaged 
in doubling Cape Horn. Fortunately, the Seringapatam could 
supply the deficiency, though, in doing so, that ship was ren- 
dered nearly defenceless. On the 22d of August, all the ves- 
sels proceeded to Banks' Bay, where the prizes were moored, 
and the Essex sailed on a short cruise, alone, on the 24th. 

After passing among the islands, without meeting any thing, 
a sail was discovered on the morning of the 15th of Septem- 
ber, apparently lying-to, a long distance to the southward and 
to windward. The Essex was immediately disguised, by send- 
ing down some of the light yards, and the ship kept turning 
to windward, under easy sail. At meridian, the vessels were 
so near each other, that the stranger was ascertained to be a 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 289 

whaler, in the act of cutting in. He was evidently drifting 
down fast on the frigate. At 1 P. M., when the ships were 
about four miles apart, the stranger cast off the whales, and 
made all sail to windward. As it was now evident that he 
had taken the alarm, the Essex threw aside all attempts at dis- 
guise, and pursued him, under every thing that would draw. 
By 4 P. M., the frigate had the stranger within reach of her 
guns ; and a few shot, well thrown, brought him down under 
her lee. This ship was the Sir Andrew Hammond, of 301 
tons, 12 guns, and 31 men ; and she proved to be the vessel 
that had escaped, in the manner previously related. Fortu- 
nately, the prize had a large supply of excellent beef, pork, 
bread, wood, and water, and the Essex got out of her an am- 
ple stock of those great necessaries. On returning to Banks' 
Bay with her prize, the ship shortly after was joined by the 
Essex Junior, on her return from Valparaiso. By this arrival, 
Captain Porter discovered that several enemy's vessels of force 
had sailed in pursuit of him ; and having by this time captured 
nearly all the English whalers of which he could obtain intel- 
ligence, he determined to proceed to the Marquesas, in order 
to refit, and to make his preparations for returning to America. 
He was urged to adopt this resolution, also, by understanding 
from Mr. Downes that the government of Chili no longer pre- 
served the appearance of amity towards the United States, but 
was getting to be English in its predilections. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

On the 23d of October the group of the Marquesas was 
made from the mast-head of the Essex, and after passing 
among the islands for a few days, Captain Porter took his ships 
into a fine bay of Nooaheevah, where he anchored. Here he 
was soon after joined by the Essex Junior, which vessel had 
parted company to cruise, when he believed himself sufficiently 
secure, to commence a regular overhauling of the different.' 
ships. 

The situation of the Essex was sufficiently remarkable, at 
this moment, to merit a brief notice. More than ten thousand 
25 



290 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

miles from home, without colonies, stations, or even a really 
friendly port to repair to, short of stores, without a consort, 
and otherwise in possession of none of the required means of 
subsistence and efficiency, she had boldly steered into this dis- 
tant region, where she had found all that she required, through 
her own activity ; and having swept the seas of her enemies, 
she had now retired to these little-frequented islands to refit, with 
the security of a ship at home. It is due to the officer, who 
so promptly adopted, and so successfully executed this plan, 
to add, that his enterprise, self-reliance, and skill, indicated a 
man of bold and masculine conception, of great resources, 
and of a high degree of moral courage ; qualities that are in- 
dispensable in forming a naval captain. 

The island of Nooaheevah, on which Captain Porter landed 
his stores, was intersected by valleys, and different tribes pos- 
sessed them, forming distinct communities, which not unfre- 
quently waged war on each other, converting this little and 
retired fragment of the earth into an epitome of the passions 
and struggles of the world beyond it. In consequence of his 
intimate connexion with the inhabitants of the valley in which 
he was accidentally thrown, Captain Porter was compelled to 
join in these hostilities, the assailants of his allies beginning to 
treat him as an enemy. After some fruitless negotiating, a 
party was sent against the hostile tribe, and several conflicts 
occurred, in which the armed seamen and marines prevailed, 
as a matter of course, though not without a sharp resistance. 
This success quieted the island ; and during the remainder of 
his stay, Captain Porter appears to have been unmolested. 

It has been seen, that the Essex reached he Marquesas at 
the close of October, and in the early part of December she 
was again ready for sea. In the course of November, the New 
Zealander was filled with oil, from the other prizes, and des- 
patched for America, under the charge of a master's mate. 
Shortly after, a fort was constructed on a small conical hill, 
near the water, when the Seringapatam, Sir Andrew Hammond, 
and Greenwich, were warped close in, and moored under its 
guns. The command of this fort was given to Lieutenant John 
M. Gamble, of the marines, a spirited and intelligent young 
officer ; and Messrs. Feltus and Clapp, two of the midshipmen, 
with twenty-one men, were put under his orders, having vo- 
lunteered to remain on the island during the contemplated 
cruise of the Essex. This arrangement was made to secure 
the means of future repairs, as it was now believed that no 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 291 

more whalers were to be found, and the Essex was going to 
sea, in the expectation of meeting one of the frigates that it 
was known had been sent into the Pacific, in pursuit of her. 

The Essex, and Essex Junior, quitted the harbour of Nooa- 
heevah, on the 12th of December, 1813, bound for the coast 
of South America, which was made early in January. After 
watering at San Maria, and looking into Concepcion, the ships 
proceeded to Valparaiso. Up to this time, not a dollar had 
been drawn for, to meet the expenses of the frigate. The ene- 
my had furnished provisions, sails, cordage, medicines, guns, 
anchors, cables, and slops. A considerable amount of pay 
even had been given to the officers and men, by means of the 
money taken in the Nocton. Thus far, the cruise had been 
singularly useful and fortunate, affording an instance of the 
perfection of naval warfare, in all that relates to disti'essing an 
enemy, with the least possible charge to the assailants ; and it 
remained only to terminate it with a victory, over a ship of 
equal force, to render it brilliant. It is, perhaps, a higher eu- 
logium on the officers and crew of this memorable little frigate 
io add, that while her good fortune appeared at last to desert 
her, they gave this character to their enterprise, by the manner 
in which they struggled with adversity. 

After the arrival at Valparaiso, it was found that the feelings 
of the Chilian government had taken an entirely new direction, 
as had been reported by Mr. Downes, favouring on all occa- 
sions the interests of the English, in preference to those of the 
Americans. Without paying much regard to this circumstance, 
however, Captain Porter determined to remain in, or off, the 
port, in waiting for the Phoebe 36, Captain Hillyar, one of the 
ships sent out in quest of him, under the impression that her 
commander would not fail, sooner or later, to seek him at that 
place. There was also the prospect of intercepting such of the 
English traders as might happen to touch at the port. 

The Phcebe arrived as was expected, but instead of coming 
alone, she had the Cherub 20, Captain Tucker, in company. 
When these ships hove in sight, the Essex Junior was cruising 
off the harbour, and she came in and anchored. As the Phoebe 
alone was a vessel of a heavier rate than the Essex, this addi- 
tion to her force put a confliet between the four ships quite out 
of the question. Captain Porter, who had every opportunity of 
observing the armaments of the two English vessels, states, in 
his official communications to the department, that the Phoebe 
mounted 30 long eighteens, 16 thirty-two-pound carronades, 



292 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

with one howitzer, and 6 threes in her tops. This was a forced 
equipment for a ship of her rate, but she had probably taken 
in extra guns with a view to meet the Essex. Her crew is said to 
have consisted of 320 souls. The Cherub 20 mounted 18 thirty- 
two pound carronades below, with 8 twenty-four pound car- 
ronades and 2 long nines above, making a total of 28 guns, and 
her crew mustered 180 men and boys. In consequence of the 
number of prizes that had been manned, some deaths that had 
occurred, and the people placed in the Essex Junior, the Ame- 
rican frigate could muster but 255 souls, notwithstanding the 
enlistments she had made from the whalers. The force of the 
Essex Junior was too inconsiderable to be relied on, in an ac- 
tion against ships of a metal as heavy as that of the enemy. 
She mounted 10 eighteen-pound carronades and 10 short sixes, 
with a crew of 60 souls. Her guns would have been of little 
service in a frigate action. 

As the Phoebe came in, the wind was light, and she passed 
quite near the Essex, with her people at quarters. Captain 
Hillyar hailed, and inquired after the health of Captain Porter. 
After making the usual reply, the latter informed the English 
officer that if the vessels got foul, much confusion would ensue, 
and that he could not be answerable for the consequences. 
Captain Hillyar now observed that he did not meditate any at- 
tack, though the manner in which this was uttered, does not 
appear to have quieted the suspicions of the American officers. 
While the two vessels and their crews were in this novel posi- 
tion, the Phoebe was taken suddenly aback, and her bows 
payed off directly upon the Essex. Captain Porter immediately 
called away his boarders, and for a few minutes there was 
every appearance of a combat in a neutral port. 

A great deal of confusion is said to have existed on board 
the Phoebe, and her commander was earnest in his protesta- 
tions of an intention not to have recourse to hostilities, while 
he handled his yards in away to get a stern-board on his ship. 
As she fell off, the jib-boom of the Phcebe passed over the 
Essex's deck, and she lay, for a short time, with her bows ex- 
posed to the whole broadside of the American frigate, and her 
stern to that of the Essex Junior. Captain Porter declining to 
profit by his advantage, the Phoebe was enabled to get out of 
her awkward situation, there being no doubt that she had lain 
entirely at the mercy of her enemies. There can be little 
question that this extraordinary occurrence would have fully 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 293 

justified the American ship in having recourse to her means 
of defence. 

The English ships, having obtained some supplies, went 
outside and cruised off Valparaiso for six weeks. During this 
time, the Essex made several attempts to engage the Phoebe 
alone, sometimes by bringing her to action with the Essex 
Junior in company, and at others, by bringing her to action 
singly, having the crew of the Essex Junior on board the fri- 
gate. Captain Porter ascertained to his satisfaction, that he 
could easily outsail either of the enemy's vessels, but his 
object was not so much to escape, as to capture the Phasbe, 
which he had reason to think he might do, could he bring her 
to close action, without her consort's interference. 

A short time after the blockade had commenced, Captain 
Porter determined to make an attempt on the Cherub by board- 
ing. A strong party was detailed for this service, Captain 
Porter and Lieutenant Downes both accompanying it. The 
boats went out at night, and at first had strong hopes of being 
able to get alongside of the enemy ; but, by the subsequent 
movements of the Cherub, the Americans were induced to think 
that the English received an intimation of their intention in the 
course of the night. 

Having heard that several other cruisers of the enemy might 
soon be expected, Captain Porter now determined to go to sea, 
on the first good occasion, and by leaving the Phoebe and 
Cherub off the coast, to allow the Essex Junior to follow. 
This plan was formed on the 27th of March. The very next 
day the wind came on to blow fresh from the southward, when 
the Essex parted her larboard bower, and dragged the other 
anchor directly out to sea. The harbour of Valparaiso opens 
to the northward, being formed by a headland on its western 
side, and a cove that makes to the southward within it ; the 
main coast sweeping round to the north and east again, afford- 
ing the necessary protection. On the 28th of March, when 
the accident just mentioned occurred, the enemy's ships were 
at no great distance off the point, though far enough to allow 
the Essex to fetch past to windward of them, by hugging the 
land. The Point of Angels, however, is an exceedingly dan- 
gerous bluff to double, and most ships deem it prudent to reef 
before going round it, on account of the liability to sudden and 
violent squalls. 

As there was no time to lose, sail was got on the Essex. 
On opening the enemy, Captain Porter took in his topgallant- 
25* 



294 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

sails, hauled close by the wind, and made an attempt to pass 
out, by keeping his weatherly position. Every thing looked 
promising for a short time ; and there is little question that the 
ship would have gone clear, but, in doubling the headland, a 
squall carried away the main-topmast, throwing several men 
into the sea, all of whom were drowned. Nothing remained, 
of course, but to endeavour to regain the port, or to fight both 
the enemy's ships, under the additional disadvantage of being 
already crippled. 

Finding it impossible to beat up to the common anchorage, 
Captain Porter stood across the entrance of the harbour, to its 
northeastern side, where he let go an anchor, about three miles 
from the town, a mile and a half from the Castello Viego, 
which, however, was concealed by a bluff, half a mile from a 
detached battery of one twenty-four-pound gun, and within 
pistol-shot of the shore. Notwithstanding this position, the 
enemy continued to approach, and it soon became evident, by 
the motto flags and jacks he set, that it was his serious inten- 
tion to engage. The Essex, in consequence, cleared for action, 
and attempted to get a spring on her cable, but had not suc- 
ceeded in effecting this important object, when the Phoebe, 
having obtained an advantageous position, nearly astern, about 
4 P. M. opened her fire, at long shot. At the same time, the 
Cherub commenced the action on the starboard bow. The fire 
of the Phoabe, from the double advantage she possessed in her 
long guns and her station, became very destructive, as scarce 
a gun from the Essex could touch her. The Cherub, however, 
was soon driven off, when she ran down to leeward, and en- 
gaged from a position near that taken by the Phoebe. Three 
long twelves were got out aft, and they played with so much 
effect on the enemy, that at the end of half an hour, both his 
ships hauled off the land to repair damages. This important 
fact, which is affirmed by the Americans, is sufficiently cor- 
roborated by the accounts of the enemy. 

During this first attack, the Essex, through the great exer- 
tions of the master and boatswain, had succeeded in getting 
springs on the cable no less than three different times, but 
before the ship's broadside could be sprung to bear, they were 
as often shot away. The ship also received a great deal of 
injury, and several men had been killed and wounded. Not- 
withstanding all the disastrous circumstances under which they 
engaged, and the superior force opposed to them, the officers 
and crew of the Essex were animated by the best spirit, and it 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 295 

was not possible for efforts to be more coolly made, or better 
directed. 

The enemy was not long in making his repairs, and both 
ships next took a position on the starboard quarter of the 
Essex, where it was not in the power of the latter vessel to 
bring a single gun to bear upon them, as they were too distant 
to be reached by carronades. Their fire was very galling, and 
it left no alternative to Captain Porter, between submission, 
and running down to assail them. He gallantly decided on 
the latter. But, by this time, the Essex had received many 
serious injuries, in addition to the loss of her topmast. Her 
topsail sheets, topsail halyards, jib and fore-topmast staysail 
halyards, had all been shot away. The only sail that could be 
got upon the ship, to make her head pay off, was the flying 
jib, which was hoisted, when the cable was cut, and the vessel 
edged away, with the intention of laying the Phcebe aboard. 

The fore-topsail and foresail were now let fall, though, for 
want of tacks and sheets, they were nearly useless. Still the 
Essex drove down on her assailants, closing near enough to 
open with her carronades. For a few minutes, the firing on 
both sides was tremendous, the people of the Essex proving 
their discipline and gallantry, at that trying moment, in a way 
to justify all the high expectations that had been formed of 
them, though their decks were already strewed with killed, and 
the cockpit was crowded with the wounded. This work proved 
too hot for the Cherub, which hauled off a second time, nor 
did she come near enough to use her carronades again, during 
the remainder of the action, keeping up a distant fire with her 
long guns. 

The Phoebe showed no disposition to throw away the im- 
mense advantage she possessed, in her long eighteens; and 
when she found the Essex's fire becoming warm, she kept 
edging off, throwing her shot at the same time with fatal effect, 
cutting down the people of her antagonist almost with impunity 
to herself. By this time, many of the guns of the American ship 
were disabled, and the crews of several had been swept away. 
One particular gun was a scene of carnage that is seldom wit- 
nessed in a naval combat, nearly three entire crews falling at 
it in the course of the action. Its captain alone escaped with 
a slight wound. 

This scene of almost unresisted carnage had now lasted 
nearly two hours, and, finding it impossible to close with his 
adversary, who chose his distance at pleasure. Captain Porter 



296 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

felt the necessity of taking some prompt measure, if he would 
prevent the enemy from getting possession of his ship. The 
wind had got more to the westward, and he saw a hope of 
running her ashore, at a spot where he might land his people 
and set her on fire. For a few minutes every thing appeared 
to favour this design, and the Essex had drifted within musket- 
shot of the beach, when the wind suddenly shifted from the 
land, paying the ship's head broad off, in a way to leave her 
exposed to a dreadful raking fire. Still, as she was again 
closing with the Phoebe, Captain Porter indulged a hope of 
finally laying that ship aboard. At this moment, Lieutenant 
Commandant Downes came on board of the Essex, in order to 
receive the orders of his commanding officer, having pulled 
through all the fire in order to effect this object. He could be 
of no use, for the enemy again put his helm up, and kept 
away, when Mr. Downes, after remaining in the Essex ten 
minutes, was directed to return to his own ship, and to make 
preparations to defend, or, at need, to destroy her. On going 
away, he carried off several of the Essex's wounded, leaving 
three of his own men behind him, in order to make room in 
the boat. 

The slaughter in the Essex having got to be horrible, the 
enemy firing with deliberation, and hulling her at almost every 
shot, Captain Porter, as a last resort, ordered a hawser to be 
bent to the sheet-anchor, and the latter let go, in order to bring 
the head of the ship l'ound. This effected the object, and once 
more the Americans got their broadside to bear, remaining 
stationary themselves, while their enemy, a good deal crippled, 
was drifting slowly to leeward. Even in these desperate cir- 
cumstances, a ray of hope gleamed through this little advantage, 
and Captain Porter was beginning to believe that the Phoebe 
would drift out of gun-shot, before she discovered his expedient, 
when the hawser parted with the strain. 

There was no longer any chance of saving the ship. To 
add to her distress, she was on fire, the flames coming up both 
the main and forward hatchways ; and for a few minutes it 
was thought she must consume. An explosion of powder also 
occurred below, to add to the horrors of the scene, and Captain 
Porter told his people, that in preference to being blown up, 
all who chose to incur the risk, might make the attempt to 
reach the shore by swimming. Many availed themselves of 
the permission, and some succeeded in effecting their escape. 
Others perished, while a few, after drifting about on bits of 



1814] NAVAL HISTORY. 297 

spars, were picked up by the boats of the enemy. Much the 
greater part of the crew, however, remained in the ship, and 
they set about an attempt to extinguish the flames ; the shot of 
the enemy committing its havoc the whole time. Fortunately, 
the fire was got under, when the few brave men who were left, 
went again to the long guns. 

The moment had now arrived, when Captain Porter was to 
decide between submission or the destruction of the remainder 
of his people. In the midst of this scene of slaughter, he had 
himself been untouched, and it would seem that he felt himself 
called on to resist as Ions; as his own strength allowed. But 
his remaining people entreated him to remember his wounded, 
and he at last consented to summon his officers. Only one, 
Acting Lieutenant M'Knight, could join him on the quarter- 
deck ! The first lieutenant, Mr. Wilmer, had been knocked 
overboard by a splinter, and drowned, while getting the sheet- 
anchor from the bows ; Acting Lieutenant Cowell, the next in 
rank, was mortally wounded ; Acting Lieutenant Odcnheimer 
had just been knocked overboard from the quarter, and did 
not regain the vessel for several minutes. The reports of the 
state of the ship were fearful. A large portion of the guns 
were disabled, even had there been men left to fight them. 
The berth-deck, steerage, ward-room, and cock-pit, were full 
of wounded ; and the latter were even killed by shot while 
under the surgeon's hands. The carpenter was sent for, and 
he stated that of his crew, he alone could perform any duty. 
He had been over the side to stop shot-holes, when his slings 
were cut away, and he narrowly escaped drowning. In short, 
seventy-five men, officers included, were all that remained for 
duty ; and the enemy, in perfectly smooth water, was firing his 
long eighteens, at a nearly unresisting ship, with as much pre- 
cision as he could have. discharged them at a target. It had 
become an imperative duty to strike, and the colours were ac- 
cordingly hauled down, after one of^he most remarkable com- 
bats that is to be found in the history of naval warfare. 

In this bloody contest, the Essex had 58 men killed, in- 
cluding those who soon died of their hurts, and 66 wounded ; 
making a total of 124, or nearly half of all who were on board 
at the commencement of the action. Of the missing there 
were 31, most of whom were probably drowned, either in at- 
tempting to swim ashore, when the ship was on fire, or by 
being knocked overboard by the splinters, or pieces of the 



298 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

rigging. Including the missing, the entire loss was 152, out 
of 255. 

The Essex, with a very trifling exception while closing, 
fought this battle Avith her six long twelves, opposed by fifteen 
long eighteens in broadside,* the long guns of the Cherub, 
and, a good deal of the time, or while they lay on her quarter, 
by the carronades of both the enemy's ships. Captain Hill- 
yar's published official letter makes the loss of the Phoebe 4 
killed and 7 wounded ; that of the Cherub, 1 killed and 3 
wounded. There is no apparent reason for distrusting this 
account, as Captain Hillyar's official letter was singularly 
modest and just. Captain Tucker, of the Cherub, was wounded, 
and the first lieutenant of the Phoebe was killed. The English 
ships were cut up more than could have been expected under 
the circumstances, the latter having received no less than 
eighteen twelve-pound shot below the water-line. It would 
seem that the smoothness of the water rendered the fire very 
certain, on both sides, and it is only to be regretted that the 
Essex could not have engaged under her three topsails, from 
the commencement. The engagement lasted nearly two hours 
and a half, the long guns of the Essex, it is said, having been 
fired no less than seventy-five times each, in broadside. The 
enemy must have thrown, agreeably to the statements made 
at the time, not less than 700 eighteen-pound shot, at the 
Essex. 

The battle was witnessed by thousands from the shore ; and 
so near were all the ships to the land, that, at one time, many 
of the Phoebe's eighteen-pound shot struck the beach. This 
fact appears to be well authenticated, and, of itself, it settles 
the question of a violation of the neutrality of Chili ; since 
even they who maintain the doctrine that jurisdiction does not 
properly extend three leagues to sea, substitute the greatest 
range of a shot, or a shell, in their place. During the action, 
Mr. Poinsett, the Americ^ consul, repaired to the governor's 
and asked the protection of the batteries in behalf of the Es- 
sex. He received the evasive answer, that, should the ship 
succeed in reaching the ordinary anchorage, an officer would 
be sent to the British commander, requesting him to cease his 
fire. The governor, however, declined resorting to force, un- 

* It has been said that the Phoebe mounted but 26 long eighteens, her 
upper-deck long- guns having been twelves. We have followed Captain 
Porter's account, though the difference, under the peculiar circumstances, 
was of no great moment. 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 299 

der any circumstances. This conduct left no doubt of a col- 
lusion between the English officers and the local authorities, 
and Mr. Poinsett took the first occasion to quit the country. 

In the mode in which he fought his ship, though it was much 
criticised at the time, Captain Hillyar discovered seamanship 
and a strict attention to his duty ; but his situation must have 
been in the last degree painful, while compelled to avoid meet- 
ing the Essex singly, under circumstances that admit of no 
other plausible construction than an obedience to the most 
rigid orders. 

Captain Porter now entered into an arrangement with Cap- 
tain Hillyar, under the provisions of which, the Essex Junior 
was converted into a cartel, and a passport was given, by 
means of which all the survivors of the Essex came home. 
From this arrangement, however, Acting Lieutenant M'Knight, 
Mr. Adams, the chaplain, and Mr. Lyman, a master's mate, 
were exempted ; these three gentlemen, and eleven seamen, 
being exchanged on the spot, for a part of the people of the 
Sir Andrew Hammond, who were then prisoners in the Essex 
Junior. Mr. M'Knight and Mr. Lyman went round to Rio de 
Janeiro, in the Phoebe, in order to give some testimony in be- 
half of the captors. We shall have occasion to advert to the 
two last hereafter. 

The Essex Junior left Valparaiso shortly after this arrange- 
ment, encountering no difficulty in doubling the Horn. She 
was brought-to, off New York, by the Saturn rasee, Captain 
Nash. This officer questioned the authority of Captain Hill- 
yar to grant the passport, under which the Essex Junior was 
sailing, and he directed that ship to lie by him during the 
night. After some communications, the next morning, when 
thirty miles from the beach, Captain Porter put off in a whale- 
boat, and, though chased, by pulling vigorously for the land, 
he got ashore on Long Island, escaping in a fog. It does not 
appear, however, to have been the intention of Captain Nash 
seriously to detain the Essex Junior. He probably distrusted 
some artifice, as he permitted the ship to proceed, after again 
examining her papers. 

Thus terminated this enterprising and singular cruise, its 
end proving as disastrous as its commencement had been for- 
tunate, though it was, at all times, highly creditable to the 
spirit, resources, self-reliance, and zeal of those engaged in it. 
Before quitting the subject, however, it remains to give a brief 
account of the fortunes of the officers and men left at Nooa- 



300 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

heevah, with the three prizes, the Greenwich, the Sir Andrew 
Hammond, and the Seringapatam, under the orders of Lieu- 
tenant Gamble of the marines. 

The Essex had no sooner disappeared than the savages be- 
gan to pilfer, and to betray a turbulent disposition. Mr. Gam- 
ble was compelled to land a party, and to bring the natives to 
terms by a show of force. Fortunately this object was effected 
without firing a musket. In February, one of the small party 
left was drowned, reducing their number to twenty-two, the 
officers included. Not long after this event, four of the men 
deserted in a whale-boat, carrying off with them several small 
articles of value. But eighteen now remained. 

On the 12th of April, Mr. Gamble began to rig the Seringa- 
patam and the Sir Andrew Hammond, with the intention of 
quitting the islands, the long absence of the Essex inducing 
him to despair of her return. Some symptoms of a mutiny 
now began to show themselves, and he had all the arms and 
ammunition brought on board the Greenwich, in which vessel 
he lived ; but having occasion to be on board the Seringapa- 
tam, on the 7th of May, a party of six men rose, and took the 
ship from him. During the time Mr. Gamble was in the hands 
of these men, he was badly wounded in the foot by a pistol- 
ball, and they succeeded in carrying off the Seringapatam, 
sending the officer, and the people with him, on board another 
vessel. 

Every exertion was made to get to sea with the Sir Andrew 
Hammond, but on the 9th, the natives made an attack, and 
Mr. Feltus, with three men, was killed, and one other was se- 
verely wounded. The situation of those that remained, now 
became exceedingly critical, the whole party consisting of only 
eight individuals, of whom two were badly wounded, one was 
a cripple, and another was just recovering from a serious at- 
tack of the scurvy. In fact, there were but four men on board 
the Sir Andrew Hammond fit for duty. The jib and spanker 
were bent as fast as possible, the moorings were cut, and, un- 
der that short sail, the ship passed slowly out to sea, under 
cover of the night. When safe in the offing, but six cartridges 
were left, the Seringapatam having carried off most of the 
ammunition in kegs. 

To add to the difficulties of his situation, Mr. Gamble had 
no chart. He made out to reach the Sandwich Islands, how- 
ever, in seventeen days, where he was captured by the Cherub, 
and first learned the fate of the Essex. The Americans con- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 301 

tinued seven months in this ship, until they were landed at 
Rio de Janeiro, from which port Mr. Gamble got to New York, 
late in August, 1815. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

It has been seen, that the declaration of war found the naval 
preparations in so imperfect a condition, that the Constellation 
38, Chesapeake 38, and Adams 28, were not ready even to 
receive crews, while it was found necessary to rebuild entirely 
the New York 36, Boston 28, and General Greene 28. The 
appropriations for the repairs of the three first ships having been 
made in March, 1812, the Constellation was equipped and 
manned at Washington, in the course of the season. When 
Commodore Bainb ridge left her for the Constitution, the com- 
mand of this ship had been given to Captain Stewart, the offi- 
cer who had served as second in command under Commodore 
Preble, during most of the operations of that celebrated cap- 
tain, before Tripoli. In the course of the month of January, 
1813, Captain Stewart dropped down the river with an inten- 
tion to get to sea, but on reaching St. Mary's, an order was 
received, that induced him to go to Annapolis, in order to 
examine his powder. From this place, the ship was directed 
to proceed to Norfolk. In executing this order, the Constella- 
tion anchored in Hampton Roads, and the next morning a fleet 
of the enemy, consisting of several two-decked ships, frigates 
and sloops of war, came in and anchored off Willoughby's 
Point, where they were becalmed. While the English ships 
were waiting for the turn of the tide, the Constellation was 
kedged up until she grounded on the flats above ; and the same 
night, when she floated with the tide, she was carried up, and 
anchored between the forts at Norfolk. 

A few days later, the Constellation dropped down abreast of 
Craney Island, with a view to cover the fortifications then 
erecting at that place. At this time, the enemy was still lying 
in force in Hampton Roads. 

The Constellation was anchored in the middle of the chan- 
nel, which is quite narrow, and oil each side of her were 
26 



302 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

moored seven gun-boats, on board of which were placed offi- 
cers and men belonging to the ship. A circle of booms, 
securely fastened, protected the gun-boats from being boarded, 
which would enable them to maintain a flanking fire, on all 
assailants of the frigate. The gun-deck guns of the latter were" 
housed, and the ports were shut in. Great care was taken 
that no rope should be permitted to be hanging over the side 
of the vessel, the stern-ladders were taken away, and even the 
gangway-cleets were removed. Boarding-nettings were made 
of twenty-one thread ratlin-stuff, that had been boiled in half- 
made pitch, which rendered it so hard as almost to defy the 
knife. To give greater strength, nail rods and small chains 
were secured to the netting in lines about three feet apart. In- 
stead of tricing to the rigging, this netting was spread out- 
board, towards the yard-arms, rising about twenty-five feet 
above the deck. To the outer rope or ridge-line of the netting, 
were secured pieces of kentledge, that by cutting the tricing 
lines when the enemy should get alongside, his boats and men 
might be caught beneath. Pieces of kentledge were also sus- 
pended forward, from the spritsail-yard, bowsprit, &c. &c, to 
prevent boats from lying under them, while the netting was 
here hoisted to the fore stay. The carronades were charged to 
the muzzles with musket-balls, and depressed to the nearest 
range, in order to sweep around the ship. As the frigate was 
light, and unusually high out of the water, it was the opinion 
of the best judges, that defended as she would certainly have 
been, under the officers who were in her, she could not have 
been carried without a loss of several hundred men to the ene- 
my, if she could have been taken by boats at all. 

It would appear, notwithstanding, that the enemy was dis- 
posed to make the attempt. A large force of British ships 
having collected in the Roads, the admirals in command seri- 
ously contemplated an assault on the Constellation. Fortu- 
nately, Captain Stewart received notice of their intentions. A 
Portuguese had been stopped by the fleet, on his way to sea, 
and his ship was anchored at the upper part of the Roads, just 
out of gun-shot of the frigate. On board of this vessel, the 
Admiral kept a guard and a look-out, to signal the movements 
above. An American passenger, on board the Portuguese, 
learned from the conversation of different officers, their designs 
on the Constellation, and he found means to get on board the 
frigate in order to apprise her commander of the enemy's plan, 
handsomely volunteering to remain in the ship to help defend 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 303 

her.* Of course the guard-boats were enjoined to be more 
than usually vigilant, and every thing was got ready to receive 
the enemy. 

The night succeeding the notice was starlight, and nothing 
was attempted. The next morning, the master of the Portu- 
guese stopped alongside of the frigate, on his way to Norfolk, 
and stated that a large number of boats had collected at his 
ship the previous evening, but that the expedition had been 
deferred until that night, which promised to be dark and driz- 
zling. Accordingly the guard-boat was on the look-out, and 
it fell in with a division of boats, that was supposed to contain 
from 1500 to 2000 men. As soon as the enemy was seen, the 
officer in the boat showed two lanterns on the off-side of his 
cutter, and all hands were called in the ship. It would seem 
the enemy ascertained that his approach was discovered, and 
he retired. 

The following night, the attempt was renewed, with the 
same want of success. A few nights later, it again proved 
dark and drizzling, and a third expedition came up. On this 
occasion, Mr. B. J. Neale, the second lieutenant of the Con- 
stellation, was in the guard-boat, and he edged close in with 
the enemy, who discovered him. As soon as the word of " a 
stranger," was given, the people of the cutter sprang to their 
oars, and pulled out of sight ; but finding he was not pursued, 
Mr. Neale returned and kept company with the brigade of 
boats, which passed up on the inside of the flats, above the 
mouth of Tanner's creek, and anchored at no great distance 
below the forts. Here many of the officers landed and walked 
about to keep themselves warm, the guard-boat anchoring also. 
When the ebb tide made, the brigade returned, the Constella- 
tion's boat quitting them only when they had got below the 
frigate. 

Shortly after, the fortifications being sufficiently advanced, 
and block ships being ready for sinking in the channel, the 
Constellation was carried up again to a place of security. 
About this time Captain Stewart was transferred to the com- 
mand of the Constitution 44, and Captain Tarbell received a 
temporary appointment to the Constellation, though, the enemy 

* The name of this gentleman deserves to be honourably mentioned. 
It was Mr. Francis March, of the mercantile firm of J. Howard, March 
& Co., of Madeira. 



304 NAVAL HISTORY. [1313. 

always maintaining a strong force in the waters of the Chesa- 
peake, the ship continued to be blockaded until the peace. 

The Chesapeake, lying at Boston, had less difficulty in get- 
ting to sea, for the enemy did not keep any force before that 
port, during the first few months of the war ; most probably 
under the false impression that such was the disaffection of the 
eastern states, that it would virtually be annoying friends. 
She sailed at the close of February, 1813, under the orders of 
Captain Evans, and passing by the Canary Isles and the Cape 
de "V erds, she crossed the equator, and remained for six weeks 
near the line. She then made the coast of South America, 
passed the spot where the Hornet sunk the Peacock, the day 
after that action had occurred, and went through the West- 
Indies, and along the American coast, to the port from which 
she had sailed. During this long run, Captain Evans saw but 
three men-of-war, a ship of the line and a frigate, near the 
Western Islands, and a sloop of war, off the Capes of Virginia. 
The latter escaped in the night, after a chase of two days. 
The Chesapeake captured four merchant vessels. 

Captain Evans gave up the command of his ship on his re- 
turn, on account of ill health, and was succeeded by Captain 
James Lawrence. 

By this time, the enemy had changed his policy as regards 
the eastern states, and he kept a few frigates in the vicinity of 
Massachusetts Bay, with a view to intercept the American 
ships of war that passed in and out. Two of these cruisers, 
the Shannon 38, and Tenedos 38, had been off Boston, it was 
said, in waiting for the President 44, and Congress 38 to come 
out, but these ships had sailed without encountering them, and 
it was by no means probable that the English seriously wished 
a meeting. When it was understood, however, that the Chesa- 
peake was ready to sail, the Shannon, Captain Broke, appeared 
alone in the offing, and as the ships were fairly matched, a 
combat appeared much more probable. It is now known, that 
Captain Broke, that very day, sent in an invitation to Captain 
Lawrence, to meet him in any latitude and longitude that 
might be agreed on. Unfortunately, this letter was not writ- 
ten until about the moment the Chesapeake was getting under 
way, and the advantage of having officers and men accustomed 
to act a little together, was lost. The Chesapeake's contem- 
plated cruise was to the northward and eastward, with a view 
to intercept the store-ships and troop-ships that were steering 
for the St. Lawrence. The Hornet 18, Captain Biddle, had 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 305 

been put under the orders of Captain Lawrence, and it was 
intended that the two ships should cruise in company. The 
Greenland whale-fishery was the ultimate object of these 
vessels. 

In the forenoon of June 1st, 1813, the Shannon appeared in 
the bay. The Chesapeake was then lying in President Roads, 
ready for sea ; though some disaffection existed among the 
crew, on account of the prize-money of the last cruise, which 
was still unpaid. The ship had an unusual number of merce- 
naries in her ; and among others, was a boatswain's mate, a 
Portuguese, who was found to be particularly troublesome. 
Under the extraordinary circumstances in which the vessel 
was placed, it was thought prudent to temporise, and the peo- 
ple were addressed, and some promises were made to them, 
which apparently had the effect of putting them in a better 
humour. 

At 12, meridian, the Chesapeake lifted her anchor, and stood 
out, with a pleasant breeze from the southward and westward. 
As the Shannon was then in plain sight, the ship was cleared 
for action, and the best appearances were assumed, although 
it is known that Captain Lawrence went into this engagement 
with strong reluctance, on account of the peculiar state of his 
crew. He had himself only joined the vessel a few days be- 
fore ; her proper first lieutenant, Mr. O. A. Page, of Virginia, 
an officer of experience, was ill on shore, and died soon after, 
in Boston ; the acting first lieutenant, Mr. Augustus Ludlow, 
of New York, though an officer of merit, was a very young 
man, and was in an entirely novel situation ; and there was but 
one other commissioned sea-officer in the ship, two of the mid- 
shipmen acting as third and fourth lieutenants, and now per- 
forming this duty for the first time. One, if not both of these 
young gentlemen, had also just joined the ship, following the 
captain from the Hornet. In addition, the Chesapeake had an 
unusual number of landsmen in her. 

The Shannon stood off under easy sail, when Captain Law- 
rence fired a gun, about half-past 4, which induced her to heave 
to, with her head to the southward and eastward. By this 
time the wind had freshened, and at 5, the Chesapeake took in 
her royals and topgallant-sails, and half an hour later, she 
hauled up her courses. The two ships were now about 30 
miles from the light, the Shannon under single-reefed topsails 
and jib, and the Chesapeake under her whole topsails and jib, 
coming down fast. As the Shannon was running with the 
26* 



306 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

wind a little free, there was an anxious moment on board 
of her, during which it was uncertain on which side the Chesa- 
peake was about to close, or whether she might not be disposed 
to commence the action on her quarter. But Captain Law- 
rence chose to lay his enemy fairly alongside, yard-arm and 
yard-arm ; and he luffed, and ranged up abeam, on the Shan- 
non's starboard side. When the Chesapeake's foremast was 
in a line with the Shannon's mizzen-mast, the latter ship dis- 
charged her cabin guns, and the others in succession, from aft 
forward. The Chesapeake did not fire until all her guns bore, 
when she delivered a very destructive broadside.. For six or 
eight minutes the cannonading was fierce, and the best of the 
action, so far as the general effect of the fire was concerned, is 
said to have been with the American frigate, though it was 
much in favour of the enemy, in its particular and accidental 
consequences. While passing the Shannon's broadside, the 
Chesapeake had her fore-topsail tie and jib sheet shot away. 
Her spanker-brails also were loosened, and the sail blew out. 
These accidents occurring nearly at the same instant, they 
brought the ship up into the wind, when, taking aback, she got 
sternway, and fell aboard of the enemy, with her mizzen-rig- 
ging foul of the Shannon's fore-chains. By some accounts, the 
fluke of an anchor on board the Shannon hooked in the rigging 
of the Chesapeake. Whatever may have served to keep the 
ships together, it appears to be certain, that the American fri- 
gate lay exposed to a raking fire from the enem)', who poured 
into her the contents of one or two carronades, that nearly 
swept her upper deck. At the few first discharges of the Shan- 
non, Captain Lawrence had received a wound in the leg ; Mr. 
Broom, the marine officer, Mr. Ballard, the acting fourth lieu- 
tenant, and the boatswain, were mortally wounded ; Mr. White, 
the master, was killed ; and Mr. Ludlow, the first lieutenant, 
was twice wounded by grape and musketry. Such was the 
state of the upper deck, as the accidents mentioned, brought 
the vessels in contact. When Captain Lawrence perceived 
that the ships were likely to fall foul of each other, he directed 
the boarders to be called ; but unfortunately, a bugleman had 
been substituted for the drummer, and this man, a negro, was 
so much alarmed at the effects of the conflict, that he had 
concealed himself under the stern of the launch ; when found 
he was completely paralysed by fear, and was totally unable 
to sound a note. Verbal orders were consequently s nt below, 
by the captain's aids, for the boarders to come on deck. At 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 307 

this critical moment Captain Lawrence fell with a ball through 
the body. 

The upper deck was now left without an officer above the 
rank of a midshipman. It was the practice of the service, in 
that day, to keep the arms of the boarders on the quarter-deck, 
and about the masts ; and even when the boarders had been 
summoned in the slow and imperfect manner that, in the con- 
fusion of a combat, was allowed by the voice, they were with- 
out arms ; for, by this time, the enemy was in possession of 
the Chesapeake's quarter-deck. 

As soon as the ships were foul, Captain Broke passed for- 
ward in the Shannon, and, to use his own language, " seeing 
that the enemy were flinching from his guns," he gave the or- 
der to board. Finding that all their officers had fallen, and 
exposed to a raking fire, without the means of returning a shot, 
the men on the Chesapeake's quarter-deck had indeed left their 
guns. The marines had suffered severely, and having lost 
their officer, were undecided what to do, and the entire upper 
deck was left virtually without any defence. 

When the enemy entered the ship, from his fore-channels, it 
was with great caution, and so slowly, that twenty resolute 
men would have repulsed him. The boarders had not yet ap- 
peared from below, and meeting with no resistance, he began 
to move forward. This critical moment lost the ship, for the 
English, encouraged by the state of the Chesapeake's upper 
deck, now rushed forward in numbers, and soon had entire 
command above board. The remaining officers appeared on 
deck, and endeavoured to make a rally, but it was altogether 
too late, for the boatswain's mate mentioned, had removed the 
gratings of the berth-deck, and had run below, followed by a 
great many men.* Soon after, the Chesapeake's colours were 
hauled down by the enemy, who got complete possession of the 
ship, with very little resistance. 

Captain Broke, in his official report of this action, observes 
that after he had boarded, " the enemy fought desperately, but 
in disoi'der." The first part of this statement is probably true, 
as regards a few gallant individuals on the upper deck, but 
there was no regular resistance to the boarders of the Shannon 
at all. The people of the Chesapeake had not the means to 
resist, neither were they collected, nor commanded in the mode 
in which they had been trained to act. The enemy fired down 

* As this man performed this act of treachery, he is said to have cried 
out, " so much for not having paid the men their prize-money." 



308 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

the hatches, and killed and wounded a great many men, in this 
manner, but it does not appear that their fire was returned. 
Although the English lost a few men when they boarded, it is 
understood that the slaughter was principally on the side of the 
Americans, as might be expected, after the assault was made.* 

Few naval battles have been more sanguinary than this. It 
lasted altogether not more than 15 minutes, and yet both ships 
were charnel-houses. The Chesapeake had 48 men killed, 
and 98 wounded, a large portion of whom fell by the raking 
fire of the Shannon, after the Chesapeake was taken aback, 
and by the fire of the boarders. The Shannon had 23 killed 
and 56 wounded, principally by the Chesapeake's broadsides. 
It was impossible for ships of that size to approach so near, in 
tolerably smooth water, and to fire with so much steadiness, 
without committing great havoc. On board the Chesapeake 
fell, or died of their wounds shortly after the combat, Captain 
Lawrence, Lieutenants Ludlow, Ballard, and Broom, (of the 
marines,) Mr. White, the master, Mr. Adams, the boatswain, 
and three midshipmen. All but the midshipmen, fell before the 
enemy boarded. Mr. Budd second, and Mr. Cox third lieu- 
tenant, were wounded after the enemy had got on the Che- 
sapeake's decks. Several midshipmen were also wounded. 
The Shannon lost her first lieutenant, and one or two inferior 
officers, and Captain Broke was badly wounded ; the boatswain 
lost an arm, and one midshipman was wounded, mostly after 
the boarding. 

As soon as the ships were clear of each other, they both 
made sail for Halifax, where they soon after arrived. Captain 
Lawrence died of his wounds on the 6th of June, and, with 
Mr. Ludlow, was buried by the enemy with military honours. 

Perhaps the capture of no single ship ever produced so much 
exultation on the side of the victors, or so much depression on 
that of the beaten party, as that of the Chesapeake. The 
American nation had fallen into the error of their enemy, and 
had begun to imagine themselves invincible on the ocean, and 
this without any better reason than having been successful in 

* The fact that the English met with no resistance in coming on board 
the Chesapeake, is fully confirmed by the official account of Captain Broke. 
This officer, who appears to have behaved with great personal gallantry, 
was among the first to board, and he says, " having received a sabre 
wound, at the first onset, while charging a part of the enemy, who had 
rallied on their forecastle," &c. &c. The enemy came in astern, and the 
first onset occurring on the forecastle, it follows that there was no resist- 
ance aft. 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 309 

a few detached combats, and its mortification was in propor- 
tion to the magnitude of its delusion ; while England hailed 
the success of the Shannon as a proof that its ancient renown 
was about to be regained. 

In America reflection soon caused the mortification in a 
great measure to subside, as it was seen that the capture of 
the Chesapeake was owing to a concurrence of circumstances 
that was not likely again to happen. It was soon understood 
that the closeness and short duration of this combat were ac- 
tually owing to their own officer, who brought his ship so near 
that the battle was necessarily soon decided, while its succeed- 
ing incidents were altogether the results of the chances of war. 
At the moment when the English boarded, the total loss of the 
Shannon in men, is believed to have been at least equal to that 
of the Chesapeake ; yet the former vessel was deprived of the 
services of no important officer but the boatswain, while the 
Chesapeake had lost those of her captain, two of her lieuten- 
ants, master, marine officer, and boatswain, including every 
one in any authority on the upper deck. These fortuitous 
events are as unconnected with any particular merit on the 
one side, as with any particular demerit on the other ; and the 
feeling of the Americans gradually settled down into a senti- 
ment of sincere respect for the high-spirited Lawrence, and of 
deep regret for his loss. When told of their defeat, and call- 
ed on to acknowledge that their enemy was victorious in one 
of the most extraordinary combats of the age, they have gen- 
erally given all the credit to the conquerors that they deserved ; 
and while they frankly admit that the victory was remarkable, 
they may be excused for believing it quite as much so for 
standing alone in such a war, as for any other distinguishing 
characteristic. 



310 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

While these different events were occurring among the fri- 
gates and larger sloops of war, the lighter cruisers of the navy 
had not been idle. The fate of the Nautilus has been already 
mentioned ; the Argus's cruises have also been alluded to ; 
but nothing has been said of the Siren, Enterprise, and Vixen, 
the other three little vessels, which were so distinguished in the 
Tripolitan contest. The latter, like her sister the Nautilus, had 
but a short career after the declaration of war. During the 
first few months, she was on the southern coast, under the 
command of Captain Gadsden, but that officer dying, she was 
given to Captain Washington Reed, who went on a cruise 
among the Islands. A few days out, he was fallen in with 
and chased by the Southampton 32, Captain Sir James Lucas 
Yeo, which ship succeeded in getting alongside of the Vixen, 
after a short but severe trial of speed, and of course captured 
her. Both vessels were soon after wrecked on one of the Ba- 
hama Islands, when, it is said, that the American crew set an 
example of subordination, sobriety, and order, that produced 
a strong impression on the British officers. 

The Siren cruised a short time in the Culf of Mexico with- 
out meeting with any thing, under Lieutenant Commandant 
Joseph Bainbridge, and then came north, going into Boston. 
Here Mr. Bainbridge, who had been promoted, was transferred 
to the Frolic, one of the new sloops built under the late laws ; 
and Mr. George Parker, who had been the first lieutenant of 
the Constitution, in her action with the Java, having been pro- 
moted, was attached to the brig in his place. The future his- 
tory of this little cruiser being brief, it may be given here. 
She sailed from Boston in the summer of 1814, and, shortly 
after she got to sea, Captain Parker died ; when Lieutenant N. 
Nicholson succeeded to the command. On the 12th of July, 
the Siren fell in with the Medway 74, Captain Brine, and, 
after a vigorous chase of eleven hours, during which the brig 
threw her guns overboard, she was captured, and taken into 
the Cape of Good Hope. 

The fortune of the Enterprise was better. Her first com- 
mander was Mr. Johnston Blakely, who kept her on the east- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 311 

ern coast, where she was of great service, in driving off the 
small privateers that were sent out of the adjacent English 
ports. In August, she captured the Fly privateer ; and soon 
after, Mr. Blakely, having risen to the rank of master and 
commander, was given the command of a new sloop called 
the Wasp. His successor in the Enterprise was Mr. William 
Burrows. The service of the vessel, under this officer, was 
not changed ; but she was still kept to watch the enemy's priva- 
teers, between Cape Ann and the Bay of Fundy. 

The Enterprise left Portsmouth, N. H., on the 1st of Sep- 
tember, 1813, and steering to the eastward, was led into Port- 
land, in chase of a schooner, on the 3d. On the 4th, she 
swept out to sea again, and pursued her course to the eastward 
in quest of several privateers that were reported to be off Man- 
hagan. While opening the bay, near Penguin Point, a brig 
was seen getting under way, that had every appearance of be- 
ing a vessel of war. The character of the stranger was soon 
put out of all doubt, by her setting four British ensigns, firing 
several guns, which are since known to have been signals of 
recall to a boat that had gone to the shore, and her making 
sail to close with the Enterprise. Being satisfied that he had 
an enemy and a vessel of war to deal with, Lieutenant Com- 
mandant Burrows hauled up, in order to clear the land. 

While the two vessels were standing out, the Enterprise lead- 
ing, some preparations were making on board the latter that 
produced uneasiness in a portion of her crew. This little brig 
had a small poop-cabin on deck, and Mr. Burrows had direct- 
ed a long gun from forward to be brought aft, and to be run 
out of one of the windows. Owing to the rake of the stern- 
frame, and to the fixtures of the cabin, this arrangement could 
not be completed without cutting away some of the wood. On 
observing this, the impression became general among the men 
that it was the intention of their commander, who was almost 
a stranger to them, to keep off, and to use the gun as a stern- 
chaser. This was an unpleasant idea to the forecastle-men in 
particular, who were burning with a desire to be carried along- 
side of the enemy. The forecastle was commanded by a young 
officer of great promise, and the seamen at length urged him 
to go aft and state their anxiety to engage, as well as their en- 
tire confidence of success. This gentleman so far complied 
as to speak privately to the first lieutenant, who explained the 
intention of Mr. Burrows, and fully satisfied the people. 

At 3 P. M., believing himself far enough from the land, and 



312 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

having completed his preparations, Lieutenant Commandant 
Burrows shortened sail and edged away towards his enemy, 
who seemed equally willing to engage. The two brigs ap- 
proached on contrary tacks. As they neared each other, or 
at 20 minutes past 3, they kept away together ; and as they 
came side by side, both delivered their fire, within pistol-shot. 
The Enterprise opened with her larboard, and the enemy 
with his starboard guns. The former brig drew ahead, keep- 
ing up an animated fire, and finding himself well forward of 
the English vessel's bow, Mr. Burrows put his helm a-star- 
board, and sheered across his antagonist's forefoot, firing the 
gun that had been run out of the cabin window once or twice 
with great effect in passing. The enemy was now allowed to 
come up again on the Enterprise's quarter, when the two ves- 
sels engaged with their opposite guns ; the American brig con- 
tinuing to keep well on the enemy's bow. In this situation the 
English vessel lost her main-topmast, when the Enterprise 
again sheered athwart her forefoot, raked her once or twice 
more with the long gun aft, which proved to be the most ser- 
viceable piece in the vessel, and resumed her position on the 
enemy's starboard bow, maintaining an animated fire. While 
lying in this favourable situation, the enemy struck. 

In this hot and vigorous combat, the Enterprise was singu- 
larly well handled, manoeuvring on the bows of her enemy 
with effect, while she was kept perfectly in command, and was 
ready at any moment to meet any change of position on the 
part of her antagonist. That it was the original intention of 
her commander to fight her in this novel manner, was appa- 
rent by the forethought he discovered in shifting the bow gun 
aft. 

The fire of the enemy ceased about 4, though his colours 
were still flying. He now hailed to say he had struck ; and 
when ordered to haul down his ensign, an answer was given 
that it had been nailed aloft, and could not be lowered until 
the fire of the Enterprise should cease. After this awkward 
explanation, the Enterprise stopped firing, and took possession. 
The prize proved to be H. B. M. brig Boxer 14, Captain 
Blythe, an officer of merit, who had been cut nearly in two 
by an eighteen-pound shot. The loss of the Boxer in killed 
has never been accurately ascertained, though it is thought to 
have been relatively heavy. She had 14 men wounded. The 
Enterprise had 1 man killed, and 13 wounded, of whom 3 
subsequently died. Among the latter, unhappily, was her gal- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 313 

lant commander. Although the disparity in the casualties of 
this action was not so striking as in some of the previous en- 
gagements, that in the injuries received by the two vessels was 
very great. But one eighteen-pound shot hulled the Enter- 
prise ; one passed through her mainmast, and another through 
her foremast. She was much cut up aloft, particularly by 
grape ; and a great many shot of the latter description had 
struck her hull. Nearly all of the casualties were received 
from grape or canister shot. On the other hand, the Boxer 
had been repeatedly hulled, had no less than three eighteen- 
pound shot through her foremast alone ; several of her guns 
were dismounted, her topgallant-forecastle was nearly cut 
away, and her sails, spars, and rigging generally, were much 
torn to pieces. The water being quite smooth, neither vessel 
was dismasted. The Enterprise returned to Portland on the 
7th, with the Boxer, where Lieutenant Commandant Burrows, 
and Captain Blythe, were both buried with the honours of war. 

After the death of Mr. Burrows, Lieutenant James Renshaw 
was appointed to the command of the Enterprise, under which 
officer, during the following winter, she made a cruise to the 
southward, as far as the West-Indies. Here her usual good 
fortune accompanied her ; for though she sailed badly, and 
was three times hard chased, she always escaped. The Rat- 
tlesnake 16, a fast-sailing brig, bought into the service, was in 
company, under the orders of Lieutenant Commandant Creigh- 
ton, who was the senior officer of the two vessels. Mr. Creigh- 
ton went on cruising ground much frequented by the enemy, 
and yet fell in with no man-of-war he could engage. He was 
chased by heavy ships, and, to use his own expression, " in 
every instance, the good fortune of the Enterprise has been 
wonderfully manifest." The Rattlesnake outsailed her consort 
with so much ease, that most of the cruise she was under her 
topsails. 

While off the coast of Florida, the Enterprise got alongside 
of the Mars 14, a British privateer, with a crew of 75 men. 
When the two brigs appeared, near half the people of the 
Mars took to the boats and went ashore, to escape impress- 
ment ; but her master, notwithstanding this reduction of his 
force, ranged up under the broadside of the Enterprise, with 
his tompions out and guns trained. Lieutenant Renshaw, be- 
ing ignorant of the strength of the crew of the Mars, fired 
into her, when she struck, having had 4 men killed and 
wounded. On the 25th of April, the brigs separated while 
27 



314 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

chased by a frigate. The enemy pursued the Enterprise, and 
for 70 hours pressed her very hard. Lieutenant Commandant 
Renshaw was compelled to throw all his guns but one over- 
board, and yet the enemy frequently came within the range of 
shot. On the morning of the 27th, it was perfectly calm, and 
the frigate, then at long gun-shot, began to hoist out her boats, 
when a light breeze sprang up, and brought this lucky little 
brig again dead to windward. Nothing but this favourable 
shift of wind saved the Enterprise from capture. 

Shortly after, Mr. Creighton was promoted, and appointed 
to the command of a new sloop of war just launched at Wash- 
ington, and Mr. Renshaw was transferred to the Rattlesnake. 
The two vessels being in a southern port, the Enterprise was 
sent to Charleston, where she became the guard-vessel, her 
sailing being too indifferent to allow of her being sent to sea 
again, in such a war. When cruising in the Rattlesnake, in 
lat. 40° N., long. 33° W., Lieutenant Commandant Renshaw 
was chased by a frigate, and compelled to throw overboard all 
his armament but the two long guns. By this means he es- 
caped. June 22d, near the same spot, however, he fell in with 
the Leander 50, a new ship, constructed on the most approved 
modern plan, which vessel captured him ; the Rattlesnake hav- 
ing been unfortunately placed between an enemy that had the 
advantage of the wind, and the land. On this occasion, Lieu- 
tenant Commandant Renshaw kept his colours flying in a very 
steady and ofhcer-like manner, until the Leander threw her 
shot into the Rattlesnake with precision and effect. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

In addition to the law of January 2d, 1813, which authorised 
the construction of four ships of the line and six heavy frigates, 
it will be remembered that the executive was also empowered 
to cause several sloops of war to be laid down. These ships 
were of the class of the Hornet and Wasp, but were a little 
larger than the old vessels of the same rate ; and they all 
mounted 20 thirty-two-pound carronades, besides the two bow 
guns. Most of them were got into the water in the course of 



1813.J NAVAL HISTORY. 315 

the year 1813, though their preparations were in different de- 
grees of forwardness. They were called the Wasp, the Frolic, 
the Peacock, the Erie, the Ontario, and the Argus. As there 
had been a brig in the navy of the latter name, however, with 
which the reader has long been acquainted, it is now necessary 
to allude to her fate. 

After the return of the Argus from her cruise under Lieu- 
tenant Commandant Sinclair, as has been already stated, Mr. 
William Henry Allen, who had been the first lieutenant of the 
United States 44, in her action with the Macedonian, was 
appointed to command her. Lieutenant Allen first obtained 
the Argus by an order from Commodore Decatur ; and there 
was a moment when it was uncertain whether Captain Biddle, 
or this gentleman, should go to sea in the brig, but the former 
was put into the Hornet. Mr. Allen was shortly after pro- 
moted, when his new station was confirmed by the department. 
June 18th, 1813, the Argus sailed from New York, with Mr. 
Crawford, then recently appointed minister to France, on 
board ; and after a passage of 23 days, she arrived safe at 
1'Orient. Remaining but three days in the port, Captain Allen 
proceeded on a cruise. 

The Argus sailed from 1'Orient about the middle of July, 
and her exploits for the next few weeks, revive the recollections 
of those of Captains Jones, Wickes, and Conyngham, during 
the Revolution. Captain Allen kept his brig for some time in 
the chops of the English Channel, then went round the Land's 
End, and shifted his cruising ground to the Irish Channel. He 
captured twenty sail of merchantmen, while passing, as it 
might be, through the very centre of the enemy, most of which 
were destroyed. The appearance of this vessel so near the 
British coast, excited much interest in the English commercial 
world, and several cruisers were immediately sent in chase of 
her. 

It will readily be understood, that the duty on board the 
Argus, was of the most harassing and fatiguing nature, the 
feelings of Captain Allen inducing him to allow the masters 
and passengers of the different vessels he took, to remove every 
thing of value, that belonged to themselves, before he caused 
the prizes to be burned. Indeed, in so honourable and chival- 
rous a spirit did this excellent officer conduct the peculiar war- 
fare in which he was engaged, that even the enemy did ample 
justice to his liberality. 

On the night of the 13th of August, the Argus fell in with 



316 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

a vessel from Oporto, loaded with wine. It has been said, and 
apparently on authority entitled to credit, that a good deal of 
the liquor was brought on board the brig, clandestinely, as the 
boats passed to and fro, and that many of the people, who had 
been over-worked and kept from their rest, partook of the re- 
freshment it afforded too freely. A little before daylight the 
prize was set on fire, when the Argus left her, under easy sail. 
Shortly after, a large brig of war was seen standing down upon 
the American vessel, under a cloud of canvass ; and finding it 
impossible to gain the wind of his enemy, Captain Allen short- 
ened sail to allow him to close. At 6, the Argus wore, and 
fired her larboard broadside, the English vessel being then 
within good grape and canister range. The fire was imme- 
diately returned, the brigs fast drawing nearer. Within four 
minutes after the commencement of the action, Captain Allen 
was mortally wounded, by a round shot's carrying off a leg. 
He refused to be taken below, but fainting from loss of blood, 
he was carried off the deck at 8 minutes past 6. At 12 min- 
utes past 6, Mr. Watson, the first lieutenant, was severely 
wounded in the head by a grape-shot, which stunned him, and 
he was also taken below. But one lieutenant remained, Mr. 
W. H. Allen, who continued to fight the brig, in a very gallant 
manner, under the most discouraging circumstances. At this 
juncture, the Argus was beautifully handled, an attempt of the 
enemy to cross her stern, by keeping away, having been frus- 
trated, by the American brig's luffing into the wind, making a 
half-board and throwing in a completely raking broadside her- 
self. But all the braces aft having been shot away, the Argus 
broke round off, in filling again, when the enemy succeeded in 
crossing her stern and raking. At 25 minutes past 6, the 
wheel-ropes and nearly all the running rigging being gone, the 
Argus became unmanageable, and the enemy chose his position 
at pleasure. At half-past 6, Mr. Watson returned to the deck, 
when he found the enemy lying under the Argus's stern, pour- 
ing in his fire without resistance. An attempt was made to 
get alongside, with a view to board, but it was found impracti- 
cable to move the American brig, while the enemy kept on her 
quarter, or bow, throwing in a cross or raking fire with im- 
punity, the Argus seldom being able to bring a gun to bear. 
At 47 minutes past 6, the colours were ordered to be hauled 
down ; the enemy, at the same moment, falling on board, and 
taking possession over the bow. 

The English brig was the Pelican 18, Captain Maples, 



1813] NAVAL HISTORY. 317 

mounting 16 thirty-two-pound carronades, four long guns, and 
one twelve-pound carronade. The armament of the Argus, 
by crowding guns into the bridle ports, was 18 twenty-four- 
pound carronades and two chase guns. The enemy was so 
much heavier, that it may be doubted whether the Argus could 
have captured her antagonist under any ordinary circumstances, 
but it has been usual, in the service, to impute this defeat to a 
want of officers, and to the fact that the people of the Argus 
were not in a fit condition to go into action. The American 
vessel was particularly well officered, so far as quality was 
concerned, though fjer batteries were necessarily left without 
a proper supervision, after Mr. Watson was taken below. It 
is not easy to believe that Captain Allen would have engaged 
with his people under any very obvious influence from a free 
use of wine, but nothing is more probable than that the crew 
of the Argus should have been overworked, in the peculiar 
situation in which they were placed ; and they may have been 
exposed to the particular influence mentioned, without the cir- 
cumstance having come to the knowledge of the superior offi- 
cers. They have, indeed, been described as " nodding at their 
guns," from excessive fatigue. One thing would seem to be 
certain, that, while the brig was beautifully handled, so long 
as she was at all manageable, the fire of no other American 
cruiser in this war, was as little destructive as that of the 
Argus.* This has been attributed to the fatigue of the crew, 
and it is reasonable to suppose that the circumstance of the 
two lieutenants having been so early taken from the batteries, 
did not contribute to the accuracy of the fire. It ought, more- 
over, to be added, that the Pelican was about a fourth larger 
than her antagonist. 

On the other hand, the fire of the enemy, when its length, 
closeness, and want of resistance, are considered, does not ap- 
pear to have been remarkable. The Argus had two midship- 
men, and four men killed, and 17 men wounded, in an action 
of three quarters of an hour. The Pelican, notwithstanding, 

* It is one tradition of the service that the Argus was lost by double 
shotting the carronades. It is certain that a carronade will not bear two 
shot to advantage. In her first cruise, the Essex, which vessel had an 
armament of carronades, took a merchant-brig, on which Captain Porter 
determined to try the effect of his broadside. The frigate ranged fairly 
alongside of her prize, and fired a whole broadside into her, each gun being 
double-shotted. Nearly every shot struck, and but two or three, with the 
exception of those from the long twelves, penetrated the brig's sides. 
27* 



318 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

was extremely well managed, and was very gallantly fought. 
She lost 7 men in killed and wounded, but appeal's to have 
suffered very little in her hull, or even aloft. 

Captain Allen died of his wound in the hospital of Mill 
Prison, and was buried by the enemy with the honours of war. 
Mr. Watson recovered of his hurts. 

Thus the navy lost all but the Enterprise, of the five little 
cruisers that had figured before Tripoli, and which had become 
endeared to the service by its traditions and recollections. The 
Argus alone, had been taken under circumstances that allowed 
a gun to be fired. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

Shortly after the commencement of the war, a hundred 
British pennants were assembled in the American seas. A 
considerable force collected in the Chesapeake, a part of which 
was kept to watch the Constellation, in the manner mentioned, 
while the small vessels made descents on the coast, or entered 
the rivers and creeks, with which those waters abound. 

In the early part of June, 1813, the enemy was thought to 
have had more than twenty sail of cruisers in and about the 
Chesapeake, of which several were ships of the line. The flags 
of two admirals were flying among them. On the 18th, three 
frigates came into Hampton Roads, and one of them went up 
nearly to the quarantine ground, sending her boats to destroy 
some small vessels in the James. The next day the flotilla 
of gun-boats descended to attack her, under the orders of Cap- 
tain Tarbell, then temporarily in command of the Constellation. 
There were fifteen boats in all, acting in two divisions, one of 
which was directed by Lieutenant Gardner, and the other by 
Lieutenant Robert Henley. Officers and men were taken 
from the frigate to man them, including nearly all her lieu- 
tenants and midshipmen. A company of riflemen volunteered 
to join the seamen, and were also distributed among the boats. 
The weather prevented Captain Tarbell from approaching the 
enemy, until Sunday, the 20th, when it fell calm, and the gun- 
boats dropped down within a good range for shot, and opened 






1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 319 

on the upper frigate, about 4, A. M. At this time the two 
other frigates were still lying in the Roads. 

The gun-boats formed in a crescent, and a brisk cannonade 
was commenced on the part of the Americans. It was some 
time before the enemy returned it, the approach in the dark 
and mist having taken him completely by surprise. The 
flotilla began the action at anchor, but it was soon found im- 
possible to keep the boats steady, and most of them weighed, 
and got out their sweeps, by means of which the guns were 
kept bearing in the right direction. The defence of the frigate 
was very feeble, and after discharging two or three broadsides, 
she got under way, but the wind was too light to enable her 
either to close, or to haul off. This vessel was in a very 
critical situation, and owed her escape in a great measure to 
her consorts ; for, after a severe cannonade of more than an 
hour, one of the ships below was enabled to close, when a much 
sharper contest occurred. But the wind increasing, and the 
third ship drawing near, Captain Tarbell made a signal for the 
flotilla to retire. 

In this affair, most of the boats were conducted with spirit. 
Their fire was well directed, and they treated the upper ship 
quite roughly. The fire of this vessel was extremely feeble, 
and it appears to have done no execution whatever. That of 
the second ship, however, was very animated, and it was par- 
ticularly well directed. Although the loss of the Americans in 
men was small, consisting of only one master's mate killed, 
and two men wounded, the enemy's grape flew around them 
in great numbers. One boat received a bad shot between wind 
and water, and several had their sweeps shot away, or were 
otherwise injured. The gun-boat commanded by Mr. Nantz, 
the sailing-master, was crippled, and in danger of being cap- 
tured by the enemy, when, by order of Captain Tarbell, she 
was taken in tow by the boat commanded by Lieutenant W. 
B. Shubrick, of the Constellation, and brought off. 

The frigate first engaged was thought to be the Narcissus 
32, and the vessel that came to her relief, the Junon 38, Cap- 
tain Saunders. This experiment had the effect to convince 
most of the sea-officers engaged on board the gun-boats, of the 
bad qualities of that description of vessel, they having been 
very generally found wanting in a sufficient degree of steadi- 
ness to render their fire certain, even in smooth water. The 
recoils of the guns caused them to roll to a degree that rendered 



320 NAVAL HISTORY. [1613. 

the aim uncertain, and it has been seen that they could only 
be kept in the proper positions by the aid of sweeps. 

The next flood, a large force of the enemy, consisting of 
fourteen sail, came into the Roads, and an attack was expected. 
On the 20th, the enemy's ships weighed, and ascended with 
the tide to the mouth of James river, whex'e, in the afternoon, 
they were seen making preparations to send up a large force 
in boats. As so much depended on the defence of the batte- 
ries of Craney Island, Captain Cassin, who commanded the 
naval force at Norfolk, sent three of the lieutenants of the Con- 
stellation, Messrs. Neale, W. Branford Shubrick, and Sanders, 
on shore, with 100 seamen, to take charge of the principal 
guns. This party was sustained by Lieutenant Breckenridge, 
of the marines, and about 50 men of that gallant corps. Most 
of the officers of the navy then at Norfolk, and who did not 
belong to the frigate, were also employed in the gun-boats, or 
about the island. 

Early on the morning of the 22d, the enemy was discovered 
landing a large force round the point of the Nansemond ; and 
about 8 A. M., the barges of the vessels of war attempted to 
land in front of Craney Island, at a point where they were safe 
from the fire of the gun-boats, though exposed to that of the 
seamen's battery. Mr. Neale now opened his fire, which was 
directed with great coolness and precision ; and, after having 
three of his boats sunk, the enemy abandoned the attempt. 
The narrative of the remainder of the operations of this day, 
belongs to the general history of the war, rather than to a work 
of this character. 

The officers, seamen, and marines of the Constellation, as 
well as the other portions of the navy employed on this occa- 
sion, gained great credit for their steadiness, discipline, and 
spirit. One of the barges sunk was said to have been a pecu- 
liar boat, called, from the great number of oars she rowed, the 
Centipede. She was described as having been fifty feet long, 
and as having contained 75 men. About 40 prisoners were 
made from the boats that were sunk, though the total loss of 
the enemy who were opposed to the seamen and marines, is 
not known. Captain Cassin, in describing the fire of the sea- 
men's battery, observed that it resembled the shooting of rifle- 
men. There is no doubt that the enemy found it much too 
cool and direct to be faced. 

The government had fitted out several small vessels for the 
defence of the bays and rivers, and among others were the 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 321 

Scorpion and Asp. On the 14th, these two little cruisers got 
under way from the Yeocomico, and stood out into the river, 
when, at 10 A. M., a considerable force of the enemy was seen 
in chase. The Scorpion, on board of which was the senior 
officer, immediately made a signal for the Asp to act at discre- 
tion, and began to beat up the river. The Asp being a dull 
sailer, her commander, Mr. Sigourney, thought it expedient to 
re-enter the creek. He was followed by two brigs, which 
anchored off the bar, and hoisted out their boats. Mr. Si- 
gourney now deemed it more prudent to run higher up the 
Yeocomico ; and as the enemy was already pulling in, he cut 
his cable and made sail. Three boats soon after attacked the 
Asp, which made a very gallant defence, and handsomely 
beat them off The enemy, however, reinforced, and renewed 
the attack with five boats, when Mr. Sigourney ran the Asp 
on shore, and was boarded by about 50 men, who succeeded 
in carrying her. She was set on fire and abandoned, but Mr. 
M'Clintock, the officer second in command, got. on board her 
again, and succeeded in extinguishing the flames. In this 
affair, Mr. Sigourney was killed, dying sword in hand in de- 
fence of his vessel, in a manner to reflect the highest credit on 
his professional training and personal gallantry. The Asp had 
but two or three light guns, and a crew of 21 souls. Of the 
latter, 10 were killed, wounded, and missing : facts that attest 
the gallantry of the defence. 

While these events were occurring at the south, some move- 
ments farther north brought a part of the enemy's force within 
the waters of Long Island Sound, where, with occasional 
changes of ships, it continued to the close of the war. After 
the United States had refitted at New York, on her return 
from the cruise in which she had captured the Macedonian, 
Commodore Decatur prepared to sail again, with the latter 
frigate in company. The Hornet being about to go to sea, at 
the same time, in order to join the Chesapeake, Captain Law- 
rence, the three vessels got under way, and passed Hell Gate 
on the 27th of May, with a view to run off the coast between 
Montauk and Block Island. It was June the 1st before the 
ships found an opportunity to pass through the Race : but they 
were met near the end of the island by a greatly superior 
force, and were chased into New London.' Here all three of 
the vessels were closely blockaded, nor was either of the fri- 
gates able to get to sea during the remainder of the war, though 
opportunities were long and anxiously sought. In the end, 



322 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

their officers and people were transferred to other vessels. It 
will give an idea of the great importance that ought to be at- 
tached to the means of raising blockades, when it is remem- 
bered that, while watching the three American vessels which 
then lay in the Thames above New London, the enemy also 
had it in his power to blockade the most important point on the 
continent connected with the coasting trade. 

About this time, also, a small brig called the Viper, which 
had been put into the service under the orders of Lieutenant 
John D. Henley, was taken by the Narcissus 32, under cir- 
cumstances that require no particular description. 

In January, 1814, the Alligator, another small schooner, 
commanded by Mr. Basset, a sailing-master, was lying at 
anchor off the coast, abreast of Cole's Island, and observing 
an enemy's frigate and brig, just without the breakers, Mr. 
Basset suspected that an attempt would be made on him in 
the course of the night. Preparations to receive the enemy 
were made accordingly. About half-past 7 in the evening, six 
boats were discovered, under cover of the marsh grass, pulling 
up with muffled oars. When near enough, they were hailed, 
and a musket was fired at them. The boats now made a ge- 
neral discharge of musketry and grape, which the Alligator 
immediately returned. The schooner then cut her cable, and 
availing herself of a light breeze, she was immediately brought 
under command of her helm. By this promptitude, Mr. Bas- 
set succeeded in beating off his assailants, notwithstanding the 
schooner soon after grounded. The Alligator had 2 men 
killed, and 2 wounded, while the loss of the enemy was never 
known. The schooner had but 40 men on board, while the 
boats are thought to have contained about 100. Of the latter, 
the loss must have been severe, or they would not have aban- 
doned the attack after the Alligator had grounded. The firing 
continued half an hour, and the schooner was a good deal cut 
up in her sails and rigging. A large cutter, that was sup- 
posed to have been one of the boats of the enemy on this oc- 
casion, was shortly after picked up on the North Edisto, much 
injured by shot. The bodies of one officer and of a common 
seaman were also found near by. The former had lost an 
arm, besides receiving a musket-shot wound. Mr. Basset was 
promoted for his gallantry. 

The in-shore war at the south was distinguished by many 
other little exploits, resembling those already related ; one of 
which, performed under the eyes of Captain Dent, who com- 



3815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 323 

manded at Charleston, is deserving of particular notice. Al- 
though it will be advancing the time to a period near the close 
of the war, it may be related here, with a view to present to 
the reader most of these isolated instances of gallantry in one 
picture. 

In January, 1815, while Captain Dent was at the North 
Edisto, he obtained information that a party of officers and 
men, belonging to the Hebrus, Captain Palmer, was watering 
on one of the islands of the vicinity, and he directed Mr. Law- 
rence Kearny to proceed outside, with three barges, to cut 
them off, while a party of militia endeavoured to assail them 
by land. The frigate was at anchor, out of gun-shot ; but as 
soon as she perceived the design of the Americans, she fired 
guns, and made other signals of recall, when two of the boats 
pulled towards her, and a tender, that contained a strong party, 
attempted to run out also. Fortunately the wind shifted, 
bringing the Hebrus to windward of the American barges, 
but the tender to leeward of them. Discovering his advan- 
tage, Mr. Kearny determined to make a dash at the latter, re- 
gardless of the frigate and of the two boats that were pulling 
off. The Hebrus, perceiving the danger in which her tender 
was placed, now made the greatest exertions to save her. Shot 
were fired at her own cutters, to drive them back to the assist- 
ance of the tender ; and a third boat was sent from the frigate 
with the same object. She also opened her fire on the Ame- 
rican barges with some effect, one of her shot taking off the 
head of a man at Mr. Kearny's side. But this gallant officer, 
disregarding every thing but his object, laid the tender aboard 
in the steadiest manner, and carried her off, directly under the 
guns of the frigate to which she belonged. The Hebrus's 
launch was also taken, her people having hurried on board the 
tender when the alarm was given. The latter had a carron- 
ade and six brass swivels in her, besides other arms. 

Mr. Kearny took about 40 prisoners on this occasion. 
The Hebrus intercepting his return, by the way he had come 
out, he carried his prize to the South Edisto. 

A few days later, Mr. Kearny, in the launch of the Hebrus, 
with a crew of 25 men, went out and captured a tender be- 
longing to the Severn, having on board between 30 and 40 
men. Handsomer exploits of the sort were not performed in 
the war. 

To this list of the minor conflicts, may be added an attack 
on gun-boat No. 160, commanded by Mr. Paine. This officer, 



324 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

who then held the rank of sailing-master, was convoying a 
number of coasters from Savannah to St. Mary's, when an 
expedition, consisting of a tender full of men, and ten boats, 
attacked him in St. Andrew's Sound, about 3 A. M. of the 6th 
of October, 1814. After a short cannonading and a sharp 
discharge of musketry, that lasted about 20 minutes, the enemy 
closed, and carried the boat by boarding. There were but 16 
men fit for duty in No. 160 at the time; her entire comple- 
ment consisting of 30 souls. Mr. Paine was badly wounded, 
as were two of his people. The enemy suffered severely, the 
defence having been spirited and obstinate. 

A short notice of the warfare in the Delaware properly 
occurs next. This bay had no longer the importance it pos- 
sessed in the war of 1775. Philadelphia had now lost the 
distinction of being the commercial and political capital of the 
country ; and in the way of shipping, several ports were fast 
outstripping it. The enemy, consequently, paid much less 
attention to these waters than to those of the Chesapeake, and 
to other points of more interest. The length of the river, too, 
added to the security of the places that lie on its banks, and 
there was little apprehension of any serious descent. Still a 
flotilla consisting of gun-boats and block-sloops had been equip- 
ped, and it was put under the orders of Lieutenant Angus, an 
officer of tried spirit. 

On the 29th of July, 1813, Mr. Angus had an affair with 
the Junon 38, and Martin 16, in which No. 121, Mr. Shead, 
was taken, after a handsome resistance. 

The loss of the enemy's ships was 7 killed and 12 wounded. 
No. 121 had 7 men wounded. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

In the summer of 1814, several of the new ships were put 
into the water : among them were the Independence 74, the 
Guerriere and Java, 44 each, and the Wasp, Frolic and Pea- 
cock, sloops of war. The Frolic 18, Captain Bainbridge, had 
a short career, having been chased and captured, on the 20th 
of April, 1814, by the Orpheus 36, Captain Pigot, soon after 



1814] NAVAL HISTORY. 325 

she got out. There was no action, the Frolic having thrown 
most of her guns overboard in the chase. 

The Adams 28 had been cut down to a sloop of war and 
lengthened, at Washington, so as to mount 28 guns on one 
deck, under the law of 1812. She succeeded in passing the 
enemy's ships in Lynnhaven Bay, on the night of the 18th of 
January, 1814, under the command of Captain Morris, and 
made a cruise in the track of the enemy's East Indiamen ; 
returning to Savannah in April. Quitting this port early in 
May, she went off the coast of Ireland, when she was hard 
chased, on different occasions, by heavy frigates. 

The ship had now been near two months in a cold, foggy, 
damp atmosphere, and the scurvy made its appearance on 
board. So many men were laid up with this terrible disease, 
that Captain Morris deemed it prudent to go into port. At 4 
A. M. on the 17th of August, in very thick weather, the Adams 
ran ashore on the Isle of Haute, but was got off by lighten- 
ing. It was found, however, that she made nine feet of water 
in an hour, and Captain Morris succeeded in getting her into 
the Penobscot, in Maine, as high up as Hampden, which is 
several miles above Castine. 

While the Adams lay ready to be hove out, with nothing in 
her, a strong expedition of the enemy, consisting of troops and 
vessels of war, entered the river, and ascended as high as 
Hampden. A small force of militia was assembled, and a 
battery was mounted with the guns of the ship, in order to pro- 
tect her ; but the irregular troops giving way, and leaving the 
seamen and marines exposed in the rear, the first without mus- 
kets, nothing remained but to set the vessel on fire, and to 
make a retreat. All the service connected with the ship was 
performed in the most orderly and creditable manner, until a 
part of the country was reached where it was found impossible 
to subsist the men in a body, on account of the distance be- 
tween the inhabitants, when the people were directed to break 
up into small parties, and to make the best of their way to 
Portland. It is a fact worthy of being recorded, that every 
man rejoined his commander, though a fatiguing march of two 
hundred miles was necessary to do so. 

The ship had made many prizes during this cruise, most of 
which were destroyed. 

While the Adams was thus running the chances of chases 
and shipwreck, the Wasp 18, Captain Blakely, sailed from 
Portsmouth, N. H., on a cruise. A letter from Captain Blakely 
28 



326 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

announced that he was in the offing, on the 1st of May, 1814, 
with a fine breeze at N. W. He ran off the coast without 
molestation, and soon appeared near the chops of the English 
Channel, where he began to repeat the ravages caused by the 
Argus. The position of the ship now exacted the utmost vigi- 
lance, as she was in the very track of the enemy. At a quar- 
ter past 4 A. M., on the 28th of June, 1814, the Wasp, then 
cruising in lat. 48° 36' N., long. 11° 15' W., made two sail, 
a little forward of the lee-beam. The weather was fine, the 
wind light, and the water exceedingly smooth for that sea. 
After keeping away in chase, another stranger was discovered 
on the weather-beam, when the ship was immediately brought 
by the wind, in order to close with her, it being obviously ex- 
pedient for the American vessel to select the antagonist that 
had the most weatherly position. At 10 the chase showed 
English colours, and began to make signals. At noon her sig- 
nals were repeated, and she fired a gun. The Wasp did not 
go to quarters until 15 minutes past 1 ; and soon after, believ- 
ing he could weather the chase, Captain Blakely tacked. The 
stranger also tacked, and stood off, no doubt to preserve the 
weather-gage. The Wasp now showed her ensign, and fired 
a gun to windward. The enemy, a large man-of-war brig, 
gallantly answered this defiance. The Wasp immediately set 
her light canvass to close, when, at 32 minutes past 2, the en- 
emy tacked, and began to draw near. The American now 
took in her light sails, and tacked in her turn ; the English 
vessel still maintaining her weatherly position, and making 
sail to close. 

At 17 minutes past 3, the enemy was on the weather-quar- 
ter of the Wasp, distant about sixty yards, when he fired his 
shifting-gun, a twelve-pound carronade mounted on a topgal- 
lant forecastle. Two minutes later he fired again ; and the 
discharges were repeated until the gun had been deliberately 
fired five times into the Wasp, at that short distance, and in 
unusually smooth water. All this time the Wasp could not 
bring a gun to bear ; and finding that the enemy drew ahead 
very slowly, Captain Blakely put his helm down, and made a 
half-board, firing from aft forward, as the guns bore. He now 
hauled up the mainsail, and the two ships being necessarily 
very near, every shot told. But the fire of the Wasp was too 
heavy to be borne, and the brig ran her aboard, on her star- 
board-quarter, at 40 minutes past 3, her larboard bow coming 
foul. The English now made several trials to enter the Wasp, 



1814] NAVAL HISTORY. 327 

led by their commander in person, but were repulsed with 
steadiness and without confusion. Two or three desperate 
efforts were repeated, but with the same want of success, when, 
at 44 minutes past 3, Captain Blakely gave the order in turn, 
to go on board the Englishman, and in one minute the flag 
of the latter was lowered. On the part of the enemy, this action 
lasted 28 minutes; on the part of the Wasp, 19 minutes, in- 
cluding the time employed in boarding. 

The prize was his Britannic Majesty's sloop of war Rein- 
deer 18, Captain Manners. The Reindeer was an ordinary 
thirty-two-pounder brig, but, like the Peacock, her armament, 
when taken, was of twenty-four-pound carronades. She 
mounted 18 guns, besides the shifting carronade, and had a 
complement on board of 118 souls. Her loss was 25 killed, 
and 42 wounded; 10 of the latter dangerously. Among the 
slain was Captain Manners ; and the first lieutenant and mas- 
ter were wounded. The Wasp had 5 men killed, and 22 
wounded. Two midshipmen, both of whom subsequently died, 
were among the latter. The Reindeer was literally cut to 
pieces, in a line with her ports ; her upper works, boats, and 
spare spars being one entire wreck. A breeze springing up 
next day, her foremast fell. The Wasp was hulled six times, 
and she was filled with grape. The principal loss she sustain- 
ed in men, however, was in repelling the attempt to board. 

Captain Blakely put a portion of his wounded prisoners on 
board a neutral, and proceeded himself to l'Orient, where he 
arrived on the 8th of July, with the remainder. The prize 
was burned, on account of the great danger of recapture. 

After a detention in port until the 27th of August, the Wasp 
sailed on another cruise. Two prizes were made when a few 
days out ; and on the 1st of September she cut a vessel, loaded 
with guns and military stores, out of a convoy of ten sail, 
that was under the care of the Armada 74 ; but was chased 
off by the enemy, in an attempt to seize another. On the 
evening of the same day, while running free, four sail were 
seen nearly at the same time, of which two were on the lar- 
board, and two on the starboard bow. The latter being farthest 
to windward, the Wasp hauled up for the most weatherly. At 
7 P. M., the chase began to make signals, with flags, lanterns, 
rockets, and guns. These the Wasp disregarded, but kept stead- 
ily approaching. At 20 minutes past 9, she had the enemy 
on her lee bow, within hail, and a gun was fired into him. 
The shot was returned, when Captain Blakely put his helm 



328 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

up, and passed to leeward, under an apprehension that the en- 
emy might attempt to escape, for it was blowing fresh, and the 
ship was running ten knots. This was easily effected, the en- 
emy being still in doubt as to the character of the Wasp, both 
vessels hailing. As soon as she had got the desired position, 
however, the American ship poured in a broadside, and a warm 
engagement commenced at 29 minutes past 9. The firing was 
close and severe, though the combat had the usual embarrass- 
ments of a night action. By 10 o'clock, notwithstanding the 
darkness and the swell that was on at the time, the fire of the 
enemy had ceased, and Captain Blakely hailed to ascertain if 
he had surrendered. Receiving no answer, and a few guns 
being fired on board the English vessel, the Wasp poured in a 
fresh broadside; but at 12 minutes past 10, perceiving that the 
enemy did not fire any longer, he was again hailed, with a de- 
mand to know if he had surrendered. The answer was in the 
affirmative, and the Wasp lowered a boat to take possession. 
Before the latter reached the water, however, the smoke having 
blown away, another vessel was seen astern, coming up fast, 
when the boat was run up, the people were again sent to the 
guns, and the Wasp was brought under command, in readiness to 
receive this second antagonist. At 36 minutes past 10, two 
more sail were seen astern, and it became necessary to aban- 
don the prize. 

The helm of the Wasp was now put up, and the ship ran 
off dead before the wind, in order to reeve new braces, and in 
the hope of drawing the nearest vessel farther from her con- 
sorts. This vessel continued the chase, until she got quite 
near, when she hauled her wind across the stern of the Wasp, 
delivered a broadside, and made stretches to rejoin the cap- 
tured vessel, which, by this time, was firing guns of distress. 
It would have been easy for the second vessel to run alongside 
of the Wasp, but the urgent situation of her consort, probably, 
prevented the experiment. 

As the Wasp left her prize so suddenly, she had no means 
of learning her name or loss. She had herself but two men 
killed, and one wounded, the latter by a wad ; a circumstance 
that proves the closeness of the combat. She was hulled four 
times, had a good many grape in her, and was much cut up 
aloft. All that Captain Blakely could state concerning his 
enemy, was his impression that she was one of the largest 
brigs in the British navy. The four shot that hulled the Wasp, 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 329 

weighed each just 32 pounds. She had many hands in her 
tops, and otherwise appeared to be strongly manned. 

It is now known that the vessel captured by the Wasp, was 
the Avon 18, Captain Arbuthnot. The brig that followed the 
Wasp, and fired into her, was the Castilian 18. The Avon 
was so much injured that she sunk, and it was with great 
difficulty that the other vessel saved her people. By some ac- 
counts indeed, a few of the wounded were lost. The loss of 
men on board the Avon is not accurately known, the state- 
ments varying from 30 to 50. The vessel was cut up in an 
extraordinary manner. She is believed to have mounted 18 
thirty-two-pound carronades, with the usual chase guns, and 
to have had a crew of 120 men in her. 

The action between the Wasp and the Avon occurred on 
the 1st of September, 1814, (sea-time,) in lat. 47° 30', N. 
long. 11° W. September the 12th, in lat. 38° 2', N., and 
long. 14° 58', W., the former ship took the brig Three Bro- 
thers, and scuttled her. September 14th, in lat. 37° 22', N., 
long. 14° 33', W., she took the brig Bacchus, and scuttled her. 
September the 21st, in lat. 33° 12', N., long. 14° 56' W.,she 
took the brig Atalanta 8, with 19 men. As this was a valua- 
ble prize, Mr. Geisinger, one of the midshipmen of the Wasp, 
was put on board her, and she was sent to America. The 
Atalanta arrived safely at Savannah, Nov. 4th, and brought 
the last direct intelligence that was ever received from the re- 
gretted Blakely and the Wasp. Various accounts have been 
given of the manner in which she was probably lost, but no- 
thing that can be deemed authentic has ever been ascertained. 

An incident occurred a few years after the last direct intelli- 
gence was received from this gallant ship, that suddenly and 
keenly revived the interest of the public in her fate, which 
had begun to settle into a saddened sympathy with the friends 
of those who had perished. It will be remembered that Acting 
Lieutenant M'Knight, and Mr. Lyman, a master's mate, both 
of the Essex, had been exchanged by Captain Hillyar, and 
taken to Rio de Janeiro, in the Phoebe, with a view to make 
certain affidavits necessary to the condemnation of the Ameri- 
can frigate. These gentlemen, after remaining some time in 
Brazil, took passage in a Swedish brig bound to England, as 
the only means of getting home. A long time passing without 
any intelligence from Mr. M'Knight and his companion, in- 
quiries were set on foot, which terminated in ascertaining this 
fact, and, subsequently, in finding the master of the Swedish 
28*- 



330 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

brig, who proved by his log-book and other documents, that 
he had fallen in with the Wasp 18, Captain Blakely, when 
his two passengers seized the occasion to put themselves under 
the flag.* 

The Peacock 18, Captain Warrington, went to sea from 
New York, in March, 1814, and proceeded to the southward, 
as far as the Great Isaacs, cruising in that vicinity and along 
the Florida shore, to Cape Carnaveral. On the 29th of April, 
in lat. 27° 47', N., long. 80° 9', W., three sail were made to 
windward, under convoy of a large brig of war. The mer- 
chantmen hauled up to E. N. E., and the sloop of war edged 
away for the American ship. The two vessels were soon 
alongside of each other, when a close action commenced. The 
Peacock received two thirty-two-pound shot in the quarter of 
her fore-yard, from the first broadside of the enemy, which 
rendered the head-sails nearly useless. This injury compelled 
the Peacock to fight running large, and prevented much ma- 

* Extracts from the Journal kept on board the Swedish brig Adonis, during 
a voyage from Rio de Janeiro towards Falmouth, in the year 1814. 

"August 23. — Left Rio de Janeiro; Stephen Decatur M'Knight, and 
James Lyman, passengers for England. 

" October 9th.— In lat. 18° 35' N., long. 30° 10' W., sea account, at 8 
o'clock in the morning, discovered a strange sail giving chase to us, and 
fired several guns ; she gaining very fast. At half-past 10 o'clock hove 
to, and was boarded by an officer dressed in an English doctor's uniform, 
the vessel also hoisted an English ensign. The officer proceeded to ex- 
amine my ship's papers, &c. &,c, likewise the letter-bags, and took from 
■one of them a letter to the victualling-office, London. Finding I had two 
American officers as passengers, he immediately left the ship, and went 
on board the sloop of war ; he shortly after returned, took the American 
gentlemen with him, and went a second time on board the sloop. In 
about half an hour, he returned again with Messrs. M'Knight and Lyman, 
and they informed me that the vessel was the United States sloop of war 
the Wasp, commanded by Captain Bleaky, or Blake, last from France, 
where she had refitted ; had lately sunk the Reindeer, English sloop of 
war, and another vessel which sunk without their being able to save a 
single person, or learn the vessel's name, — that Messrs. M'Knight and 
Lyman had now determined to leave me, and go on board the Wasp — paid 
me their passages in dollars, at 5s. 9c?., and having taken their luggage on 
board the Wasp, they made sail to the southward. Shortly after they 
had left, I found that Lieutenant M'Knight had left his writing-desk be- 
hind ; and I immediately made signal for the Wasp to return, and stood 
towards her ; they, observing my signals, stood back, came alongside, and 
sent their boat on board for the writing-desk ; after which they sent me a 
log-line and some other presents, and made all sail in a direction for the 
line ; and I have reason to suppose for the convoy that passed on Thurs- 
day previous." v 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 331 

noeuvring, the combat being effectually decided by gunnery. 
At the end of 42 minutes, the enemy struck. 

The prize was H. B. M. brig Epervier 18, Captain Wales. 
The Epervier was extensively injured, having received no less 
than 45 shot in her hull, and had 22 men killed and wounded. 
Her main-topmast was over the side, her main boom was shot 
away, her foremast tottering, her bowsprit badly wounded, 
standing rigging much cut, and she had five feet water in her 
hold. The Peacock received very little injury ; that done the 
fore-yard being the principal ; while her hull escaped almost 
entirely, not a round shot touching it. No person was killed, 
and only two men were wounded. 

The Peacock was a heavier vessel than the Epervier, while, 
as usual, the disparity in the loss was infinitely greater than 
that in the force. The metal was nominally the same ; but, if 
the shot of the Peacock were as short of weight as those of the 
Wasp are known to have been, she threw at a broadside only 
twenty pounds of metal more than her antagonist. The Eper- 
vier mounted 18 thirty-two-pound carronades, and it would 
seem had no chase guns ; her crew consisted of 128 men. 
On board this vessel were found $118,000 in specie. 

In one hour after the retreat from quarters was beat, the 
Peacock had her fore-yard fished, and in all respects was 
ready again to engage. The Epervier struck about 11 A. M., 
and by sunset she was in a condition to carry sail. It was 
only by the greatest exertions, however, that she was, at first, 
kept from sinking. 

Mr. J. B. Nicolson, the first lieutenant of the Peacock, was 
put in charge of the prize, with directions to make the best of 
his way to Savannah. The southern coast was then much 
infested by the enemy, and, as Captain Warrington knew that 
she was liable to be brought to action at any moment, he de- 
termined to convoy his prize into port. On the evening of the 
29th of April, or the day of the capture, the vessels made sail, 
and the next afternoon they were abreast of Amelia Island, 
when two frigates were discovered at the northward, and to 
leeward. At Mr. Nicolson's request, Captain Warrington 
now took all the prize crew from the Epervier but that gentle- 
man and sixteen officers and men, intending to send the prize 
into St. Mary's, and to haul to the southward with the Pea- 
cock, to lead the enemy off the coast. This plan succeeded, 
the Peacock getting rid of the frigate that chased her next day. 
The Epervier, while subsequently running along the coast, on 



332 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

her way to Savannah, however, fell in with the other frigate, 
and keeping close in, in shoal water, the wind being light, the 
enemy manned his boats, and sent them in chase. There was 
a moment when the prize was in great danger of falling into the 
hands of her pursuers, for the boats got quite near, in her wake. 
In this critical situation, Mr. Nicolson had recourse to a stra- 
tagem to keep them off. He used the trumpet as if full of 
men, and when the boats were the nearest, he issued an order, 
in a very loud voice, to make a yaw, in order to fire a broad- 
side. This appearance of a readiness to engage intimidated 
the enemy, who abandoned his attempt at a moment when he 
might have carried the Epervier with little or no loss. On the 
1st of May the brig arrived safely at Savannah, and, on the 
4th, the Peacock came in also. Mr. Nicolson's steadiness and 
ingenuity were much applauded. 

Shortly after, the Peacock sailed on a cruise for the enemy's 
seas, the Bay of Biscay, the coast of Portugal, and among the 
Islands, constantly changing her position to elude the English 
squadrons. After passing over some of the best cruising 
ground in the Atlantic, the ship returned to New York, at the 
end of October, without having fallen in with an enemy of a 
force proper for her to engage. She captured, however, 14 
sail of merchantmen. 

The President 44 continued to cruise under the orders of 
Commodore Rodgers, and the Congress 38 under those of Cap- 
tain Smith, with a similar want of success, when the merits of 
their commanders were considered. These two fine frigates 
traversed the Northern Atlantic, in a variety of directions, in 
company and singly, and yet it was never the good fortune of 
either to fall in with an enemy, that could be brought to ac- 
tion. The latter ship even went south of the equator, and 
one of her cruises extended to eight months ; but her luck did 
not vary. 

In one of his cruises Commodore Rodgers captured an ene- 
my's man-of-war schooner, called the Highflyer, drawing her 
under his guns by an artifice, and this was the only English 
man-of-war that he took during his command of this ship. 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 333 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

It would exceed the limits of a work of this nature, to enter 
into a minute relation of all the skirmishes to which the preda- 
tory warfare of the English, in the Chesapeake, gave rise ; but 
it is due to the officers and men employed against them, to 
furnish an outline of their services. On various occasions, 
parties from the ships had conflicts with the detached militia, 
or armed citizens, who were frequently successful. Although 
it is a little anticipating events, it may be mentioned here, that 
in one of these skirmishes, Captain Sir Peter Parker, of the 
Menelaus, was killed, and his party driven off to its ship. In 
several other instances, captures were made of boats and their 
crews ; the people of the country frequently displaying a cool- 
ness and gallantry that were worthy of trained soldiers. On 
the whole, however, the vast superiority of the enemy in num- 
bers, and his ability to choose his time and place of attack, 
gave the English the advantage, and their success was usually 
in proportion. 

The government had equipped a large flotilla, to protect 
those waters, the command of which was given to Capt. Josh. 
Barney, the officer who so much distinguished himself by the 
capture of the Monk, during the war of the revolution. 

The presence of Captain Barney's flotilla compelled the ene- 
my to be more guarded, and his small vessels became cautious 
about approaching the shallow waters in calms, or in light 
winds. On the 1st of June, this active and bold officer left 
the Patuxent, with the Scorpion, two gun-boats, and several 
large barges, in chase of two schooners. He was closing fast, 
by means of sweeps, when a large ship was discovered to the 
southward. Just at this moment the wind shifted, bringing 
the enemy to windward, blowing fresh and becoming squally. 
Signal was made for the flotilla to return to the Patuxent, as 
the weather was particularly unfavourable for that description 
of force, and the ship proved to be a two-decker. On re-en- 
tering the river, the wind came ahead, when the gun-boats 
began to sweep up under the weather shore. One of the latter 
being in some danger, Captain Barney anchored with the Scor- 
pion and the other boats, and opened a fire, which immediately 



334 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

drove the enemy's schooners out of the river. On this occa- 
sion, the English pushed a barge in front which began to throw 
Congreve rockets. By this essay, it was found that the rockets 
could be thrown farther than shot, but that they could not be 
directed with any certainty. The ship of the line anchored at 
the mouth of the Patuxent ; the enemy's barges kept hovering 
about it, and the American flotilla was anchored about three 
miles within the river. 

Between the 4th and 8th of June, the enemy was joined by 
a rasee and a sloop of war, when Captain Barney removed 
his flotilla up the river, to the mouth of St. Leonard's creek. 
On the morning of the 8th, the British were seen coming up 
the river, the wind being fair, with a ship, a brig, two schoon- 
ers, and fifteen barges, which induced Captain Barney to move 
up the St. Leonard's about two miles, when he anchored in a 
line abreast, and prepared to receive an attack. At 8 A. M. 
the ship, brig, and schooners anchored at the mouth of the 
creek, and the barges entered it, with the rocket-boat in ad- 
vance. 

Captain Barney now left the Scorpion and the two gun-boats 
at anchor, and got his barges, 13 in number, under way, when 
the enemy retreated towards their vessels outside. In the af- 
ternoon, the same manoeuvre was repeated, the enemy throw- 
ing a few rockets without effect. 

On the afternoon of the 9th, the ship of the line having sent 
up a party of men, the enemy entered the creek again, with 
20 barges, but after a sharp skirmish he retired. The object of 
these demonstrations was probably to induce the Americans to 
burn their vessels, or to venture out within reach of the guns 
of the ships ; but the flotilla was commanded by an officer 
much too experienced and steady to be forced into either mea- 
sure without sufficient reason. On the 11th, a still more seri- 
ous attempt was made, with 21 barges, having the two schoon- 
ers in tow. Captain Barney met them again, and, after a 
sharper encounter than before, drove them down upon their 
larger vessels. On this occasion, the pursuit was continued, 
until the rasee, which, by this time, had ascended the Patuxent, 
and the brig, opened a fire on the Americans. In this affair, 
the English are thought to have suffered materially, especially 
one of the schooners. A shot also struck the rocket-boat. 

Some small works were now thrown up on the shore, to 
protect the American flotilla, and the blockade continued. In 
the mean time, Captain Miller, of the marine corps, joined the 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 335 

flotilla, and a considerable force of militia was collected under 
Colonel Wadsworth, of the ordnance service. The enemy- 
had also brought a frigate, in addition to the rasee, off the 
mouth of the creek. The largest of these vessels was be- 
lieved to be the Severn, and the smallest the Narcissus 32. 
On the 26th, an attempt was made by the united force of the 
Americans to raise the blockade. The cannonade was close, 
for the species of force employed, and it lasted two hours, 
when the Severn cut, and was run on a sand-bank to prevent 
her sinking.* It is said that a raking shot ripped a plank from 
her bow, and placed her in imminent danger. Shortly after, 
in company with the Narcissus, she dropped down the river, 
and went into the bay. In this handsome affair, the flotilla 
lost 13 men in killed and wounded; but it effectually raised 
the blockade, and induced the enemy to be more cautious. 

The portion of the flotilla that was in the Patuxent, re- 
mained in that river until the middle of August, when the 
enemy commenced that series of movements, which terminated 
in his advance upon Washington. On the 16th, Captain Bar- 
ney received intelligence that the British were coming up the 
Patuxent in force, when he sent an express to the navy de- 
partment for instructions. The answer was to land the men, 
and join the army that was hurriedly assembling for the de- 
fence of the coast, under General Winder, and, if pressed, to 
burn the flotilla. 

On the 21st, the news was received that the enemy had 
landed a force of four or five thousand men at Benedict, and 
that he was marching in the direction of the capital. Captain 
Barney immediately landed 400 of his party, leaving the ves- 
sels in charge of Mr. Frazier, with orders to set fire to them, 
if attacked, and to join the main body with as little delay as 
. possible. The next day this order was executed, a strong de- 
tachment of seamen and marines approaching the flotilla to 
attack it. 

On the 22d, Captain Barney joined the assemblage of armed 
citizens, that was called an army, at the Wood- Yard. The 
next day he marched into Washington, and took up his quar- 
ters in the marine barracks. 

After a good deal of uncertainty concerning the movements 
of the enemy, it was understood he was marching directly os 
Washington, and that it was intended to fight him at Bladenn 



* By some accounts this ship was the Loire. 



336 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

burgh. The flotilla-men and marines left the Yard on the 
morning of the 24th ; they arrived at the battle-ground on a 
trot, and were immediately drawn up about a mile to the west 
of Bladensburgh, holding the centre of General Winder's po- 
sition. After a short skirmish in front, where the enemy suf- 
fered severely in crossing a bridge, the militia fell back, and 
the British columns appeared, following the line of the public 
road. The entire force of the flotilla-men and marines, was 
about 500 men ; and they had two eighteens, and three twelve- 
pounders, ship's guns, mounted on travelling carnages. Cap- 
tain Barney took command of the artillery in person, while 
Captain Miller had the disposition of the remainder of the two 
parties, who were armed as infantry. The marines, 78 men 
in all, formed a line immediately on the right of the guns, 
while 370 of the seamen were drawn up a little in the rear, 
and on the right flank of the marines, on ground that permit- 
ted them to fire over the heads of the latter. Although the 
troops that were falling back did not halt, Captain Barney held 
his position ; and as soon as the enemy began to throw rockets, 
he opened on him with a sharp discharge of round and grape. 
The column was staggered, and it immediately gave ground. 
A second attempt to advance was repulsed in the same man- 
ner, when the enemy, who, as yet, had been able to look down 
resistance by advancing steadily in column, was obliged to 
make an oblique movement to his left, into some open fields, 
and to display. Here he threw out a brigade of light troops, 
in open order, and advanced in beautiful style upon the com- 
mand of Captain Barney, while the head of a strong column 
was seen in reserve in a copse in its rear. Captain Miller, 
with the marines, and that portion of the seamen who acted as 
infantry, met the charge in the most steady and gallant man- 
ner, and after a short conflict, drove the British light troops 
back upon their supporting column. In this conflict the Eng- 
lish commanding officer, in advance, Colonel Thornton, with 
his second and third in rank, Lieutenant Colonel Wood, and 
Major Brown, were all wounded, and left on the field. The 
marines and seamen manifested the utmost steadiness, though 
it was afterwards ascertained that the light troops brought up 
in their front, amounted to about 600 men. 

There can be no question, that a couple of regular regi- 
ments would now have given the Americans the day ; but no 
troops remained in line, except the party under Captain Bar- 
ney, and two detachments on his right, that were well posted. 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 337 

Having been so roughly handled, the enemy made no new 
attempt to advance directly in front of the seamen and ma- 
rines, but, after forcing the troops on their right from the field, 
by a demonstration in that direction, they prepared to turn the 
rear of Captain Barney, in order to surround him. While 
these movements were going on in front, and on the right of 
the Americans, a party of light troops had been thrown out 
on the enemy's right, and the militia having abandoned the 
ground, they were also beginning to close upon the Americans 
that stood. By this time, Captain Barney, Captain Miller, and 
several other officers were wounded ; and victory being impos- 
sible, against odds so great, an order was given to commence 
a retreat. The defence had been too obstinate to admit of car- 
rying off the guns, which were necessarily abandoned. All 
the men retired, with the exception of the badly wounded ; 
among the latter, however, were Captain Barney and Captain 
Miller, who both fell into the enemy's hands. The loss of the 
latter in front of the seamen and marines, was near 300 men, 
in killed and wounded. Of the marines, nearly one-third 
were among the casualties ; and the flotilla-men suffered con- 
siderably, though in a smaller proportion. 

The people of the flotilla, under the orders of Captain Bar- 
ney, and the marines, were justly applauded for their excellent 
conduct on this occasion. No troops could have stood better ; 
and the fire of both artillery and musketry has been described 
as to the last degree severe. Captain Barney himself, and 
Captain Miller, of the marine corps, in particular, gained much 
additional reputation ; and their conspicuous gallantry caused 
a deep and general regret, that their efforts could not have been 
sustained by the rest of the army. 

As the enemy took possession of Washington, a perfectly 
defenceless straggling town of some eight or nine thousand 
inhabitants, that evening, and a considerable force in ships 
was ascending the Potomac, it was thought necessary to de- 
stroy the public property at the navy yard. At that time, a 
frigate, of the first class, called the Columbia, was on the 
stocks; and the Argus 18, and Lynx 12, had not long been 
launched. A small quantity of stores and ammunition had 
been removed, but on the night of the 24th, fire was commu- 
nicated to the remainder. It is difficult to say why the ves- 
sels afloat were not scuttled, a measure that would have 
allowed of their being raised, as it would have been impossible 
for the enemy to injure ships in that state, and equally so to 
29 



338 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

remove them. Indeed the expediency of setting fire to any 
thing has been questioned, since the enemy himself could not 
very easily have done more. It is, however, just to remember, that 
the sudden retreat of the English could not have been foreseen, 
and that they had a commanding naval force in the Potomac. 
The loss in vessels was not great ; the Columbia 44, on the 
stocks, and the Argus 18, being the only two destroyed that 
were of any value. The Lynx escaped ; and it would seem 
that the enemy was in too great a hurry to do her any injury. 
On this occasion, the Boston 28 was burned ; but the ship 
had been previously condemned. The hulk of the New York 
36 escaped ; but all the naval stores were consumed. 

To aid in resisting these descents which were believed, at 
the time, to be made by a force greatly exceeding that actually 
employed, the officers and men of the navy, who were in the 
vicinity, were collected on the shores of the Chesapeake. 
Commodore Rodgers, with the crew of the Guerriere 44, then 
nearly ready for sea, was withdrawn from Philadelphia ; Cap- 
tain Perry, of the Java 44, which ship was fitting at Baltimore, 
and Captain Porter, with other gentlemen of the service, had 
been actively employed on the banks of the Potomac, in en- 
deavouring to intercept the return of the British ships that had 
ascended to Alexandria ; a duty that could not be effected, 
however, for want of means and time. The guns at command 
were altogether too light. Some fighting occurred. Several 
gallant attempts with fire-ships were made, but the enemy's 
movements were too rapid, to allow of the necessary prepara- 
tions in a country so thinly settled, and almost destitute of 
military supplies. In the course of this service, Commodore 
Rodgers repelled an attack on a small party of less than 50 
men, that was made by the enemy in an attempt to cut off a 
lighter and a fire-vessel, on which occasion, Mr. Newcomb, 
Mr. Ramage, Mr. Forrest, and Mr. Stockton, of the Guerriere, 
were conspicuously useful. These gentlemen were also active 
in endeavouring to fire the enemy's ships, though unsuccessful. 
Most of these officers, and all their men, were ordered to Balti- 
more, when that town was threatened. 

Baltimore was a much more formidable place to assail than 
Washington, being compact, and containing, at that time, more 
than 40,000 souls. Its water defences were respectable, 
though it had no other fortifications on the side of the land, 
than temporary breastworks of earth. The seamen, both 
of the ships of war and of the flotilla, with the marines pre- 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 339 

sent, were all under the command of Commodore Rodgers, 
who made a judicious disposition of his force. 

The enemy landed early on the 12th of September, near a 
place called North Point. While this was effecting, the British 
frigates, sloops, and bomb-vessels, under the command of 
Captain Nourse, of the Severn, proceeded up the Patapsco, 
with a view to cannonade and bombard the water defences of 
the town. Vice-Admiral Cochrane, and Rear-Admiral Mal- 
colm, were with this squadron. A brigade of seamen accom- 
panied the army, under Captain Crofton. With this party 
Rear-Admiral Cockburn landed in person. The troops, as at 
Washington, were led by Major General Ross. 

After proceeding about five miles, a small advanced party 
of the local militia momentarily checked the march of the 
enemy, falling back, agreeably to orders, when it found itself 
about to be surrounded. In the trifling skirmish that occurred 
at this spot, Major General Ross was killed. A sharper en- 
counter took place shortly after, in which the Americans had 
about 1500 men engaged. On this occasion, the militia had 
24 men killed, and 129 wounded. They lost also, 1 officer 
and 49 privates, prisoners. According to the accounts of the 
enemy, he lost in both affairs, 290 in killed and wounded. 
Shortly after the second skirmish, the English retreated to the 
place of debarkation, and abandoned the enterprise. The 
armed citizens of Baltimore and its vicinity, composed the force 
that met the enemy on this occasion. 

The attack by water was equally unsuccessful. Fort 
M'Henry was bombarded for twenty-four hours, without making 
any serious impression on it. A small battery in advance, 
manned by officers and men of the flotilla, although much ex- 
posed, returned the fire to the last. In the course of the night, 
a strong brigade of boats pushed into the Ferry Branch, and 
would have gained the harbour, had it not been received by a 
warm fire from Forts Covington and Babcock, as well as from 
the barges of the flotilla. The defence was found to be too 
obstinate, and the enemy retreated. Fort Covington was 
manned by 80 seamen of the Guerriere, under Mr. Newcomb, 
a very excellent young officer of that ship ; and Mr. Webster, 
a sailing-master, with 50 men of the flotilla, was in the six- 
gun battery called Babcock. The barges were under the 
orders of Lieutenant Rutter, the senior officer present, in that 
branch of the service. All these gentlemen, and their several 



340 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

commands, distinguished themselves by their steadiness and 
efficiency. 

The barges, in particular, though exposed for nearly a day 
and a night to the shells and rockets of the enemy, maintained 
their position with unflinching firmness, and when more closely 
attacked, repelled the attempt with ease. At a most critical 
moment, several vessels were sunk in the channel, which would 
have completely prevented the enemy from bringing up his 
heavy ships, had he seen fit to attempt it. The duty was per- 
formed with coolness and expedition by Captain Spence. 

This failure virtually terminated the warfare in the Chesa- 
peake, the enemy shortly after collecting most of his forces at 
the south, with a view to make a still more serious attempt on 
New Orleans. Small predatory expeditions, however, con- 
tinued in this quarter, to the close of the war, though they led 
to no results of sufficient importance to be mentioned. This 
warfare was generally beneficial to the American government ; 
the excesses into which the enemy were led, whether inten- 
tionally or not, having the effect to disgust that portion of the 
population which had been seriously averse to the conflict ; 
and the administration was probably never stronger, than after 
the wanton destruction of the public buildings at Washington. 
About this time, Captain Barney was exchanged, and he re- 
sumed his former command, less than half of his flotilla having 
been destroyed in the Patuxent. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

The movements in the Chesapeake were made by a force 
that was assembled for other and greater objects. The prin- 
cipal expedition of the year was not commenced until near the 
close of the season, when Admiral Cochrane, after collecting, 
in the different islands, a large number of ships of war, trans- 
ports, and store-vessels, suddenly appeared off the mouth of 
the Mississippi. This was at the commencement of December, 
1814, and left no doubt, of a design to make a formidable at- 
tempt on the important town of New Orleans. 

The defences of the place, with the exception of some re- 



1814.} NAVAL HISTORY, 341 

spectable fortifications that commanded the river, were of a 
very trifling nature. The latter were formidable, and they 
rendered it necessary to make either a descent in some of the 
bayoux, by means of boats, or to destroy the works by bom- 
bardment. As the latter required time, which would allow the 
Americans to assemble a force to resist the invasion, and was 
of doubtful issue, the former project was adopted. 

On the 12th of December, when the enemy's fleet first made 
its appearance oft* the entrance of Lake Borgne, a division of 
five gun-boats was in that bay, under the command of Mr. 
Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, then a young sea-lieutenant. As 
soon as apprised of the appearance of the enemy, Mr. Jones 
reconnoitred his force, and, having ascertained its strength, he 
retired higher into the bay, with a view to take a position to 
command the approaches towards the town. There were se- 
veral small forts, either at the entrance of Lake Ponchartrain, 
or at the mouth of different bayous, or creeks, that put up into 
the low swampy grounds below New Orleans, and it was the 
intention of Mr. Jones to anchor near one of them, at a place 
called les Petites Coquilles. His vessels consisted merely erf 
gun-boats, No. 5, commanded by Mr. Ferris, a sailing-master, 
and mounting 5 guns, with a crew of 36 men ; No. 23, Acting 
Lieutenant M'Keever, 5 guns and 39 men; No. 156, Lieu- 
tenant Commandant Jones, 5 guns and 41 men; No. 162, 
Acting Lieutenant Spedden, 5 guns and 35 men; and No. 163, 
Mr. Ulrick, a sailing-master, 3 guns and 21 men ; making a 
united force of 23 guns and 183 men. The metal varied, some 
of the boats having two long heavy guns, others but one, and 
all having two or three short lighter pieces. The vessels them- 
selves, like all gun-boats, were low, easy of entrance, slow in 
their movements, and totally without quarters. 

Some movements of the enemy, who appeared with a large 
flotilla of barges and boats in the bay, induced Mr. Jones to 
expect an attack, on the 13th, and he got under way from the 
position he then held, at 3 30 P. M., to attain les Petites Coquilles, 
as mentioned. A small tender, called the Seahorse, had been 
despatched into the Bay of St. Louis, a short time previously, to 
destroy some stores ; and about 4 o'clock the enemy sent three 
boats in after her, to cut her out. The Seahorse carried one 
light six-pounder, and had but 14 men. She was commanded 
by Mr. Johnson, a sailing-master. A few discharges of grape 
drove back the boats, which were soon reinforced, however, by 
four more, when a spirited engagement ensued. This was the 
29* 



342 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

commencement of actual hostilities, in the celebrated expedition 
against New Orleans. Mr. Johnson having got a position, 
where he was sustained by two sixes on the shore, made a 
handsome resistance, and the barges retired with some loss. 
A few hours later, however, the Seahorse and stores were set 
on fire by the Americans themselves, as it was not possible to 
prevent them from eventually falling into the hands of a force 
as formidable as that brought up by the enemy. Not long 
after, another tender, called the Alligator, armed with a four- 
pounder, and with a crew of only 8 men, fell into the hands of 
the English. 

About 1 A. M. on the 14th, the flotilla, which had been en- 
deavouring to gain a better position, was compelled to anchor 
in the west end of the passage of Malhereux Island, on account 
of a failure of wind and the strength of the current. At 
daylight the boats of the enemy were seen, having brought up 
about three leagues to the eastward. It was a perfect calm, 
and a strong ebb tide setting through the Pass, no alternative 
was left Mr. Jones, but to prepare obstinately to defend, or to 
abandon his vessels. He gallantly determined on the first, 
although the force that would be brought against him was 
known to be overwhelming. Arrangements were accordingly 
made to resist the expected attack to the utmost. It had been 
the intention to form the five gun-boats with springs on their 
cables, directly across the channel, in a close line abreast, but 
the force of the current deranged the plan ; Nos. 156 and 163 
having been forced about a hundred yards down the Pass, and 
that much in advance of the three other boats. The approach 
of the enemy prevented an attempt to repair this great disad- 
vantage, which exposed the vessels mentioned to being assailed 
while, in a measure, unsupported by their consorts. When 
the character of the resistance is considered, it appears pro- 
bable that this accident alone prevented a victory from having 
been obtained. 

The English flotilla consisted of between 40 and 50 barges 
and boats, the former expressly constructed for the purposes 
of the invasion, and they are said to have mounted 42 guns, 
principally carronades of the calibers of 12, 18, and 24 pounds. 
The number of men embarked in these boats has been com- 
puted as high as 1200 by some accounts, while by others it 
has been put as low as 400. The size and number of the 
barges, however, render the latter account improbable, ten men 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 343 

to a boat being altogether too few. The truth would most 
probably lie between the extremes. 

At 10 39, A. M., the enemy raised his grapnels and hedges, 
and forming in open order, in a line abreast, he pulled up stea- 
dily to the attack. When near enough to be reached by shot, 
the gun-boats opened a deliberate fire on the approaching 
barges, though with little effect, as they presented objects too 
small to be aimed at with any accuracy. At 11 10, however, 
the enemy opened a fire through his whole line, and the action 
immediately became general and destructive. At 11 49, the 
enemy was near enough to make an attempt to board 156, 
which vessel was much exposed by her advanced position. 
Three boats dashed at her, but two were sunk, and the attack 
was repulsed. It was renewed by four boats, which were also 
beaten off with a heavy loss. In repelling this last attack, 
Mr. Jones was unfortunately shot down, when the command de- 
volved on Mr. Parker, a young midshipman, who defended his 
vessel until he was severely wounded himself, and was over- 
powered by numbers. The enemy got possession of No. 156 
at 12 10, and he immediately turned her guns on the other 
American boats. No. 163 was next carried, after a very gal- 
lant resistance ; and No. 162 followed, but not until Mr. Sped- 
den was severely wounded. The twenty-four-pounder of No. 
5 had been dismounted by the recoil, and the fire of the cap- 
tured boats having been turned on her, she was also compelled 
to submit. No. 23, Mr. M'Keever, was the last vessel taken, 
hauling down her flag about 12 30, when under the fire of the 
captured boats, and all the enemy's remaining force. Captain 
Lockyer of the Sophie commanded the English flotilla on this 
occasion, assisted by Captain Montresor of the Manley, and 
Captain Robei'ts of the Meteor. 

Although the loss of this division of gun-boats was a serious 
impediment to the defence of New Orleans, both the country 
and the service looked upon the result of the combat as a tri- 
umph. On the latter, in particular, the resistance made by 
Mr. Jones, and the officers and men under his orders, reflected 
great honour, for it was known to have been made almost with- 
out hope. Circumstances compelled the assailed to fight to great 
disadvantage, and it would seem that they struggled to render 
their chances more equal by a desperate but cool gallantry. 
In consequence of the character of this defence, it is usually 
thought, in the service, to bestow as much credit on an officer 



344 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

to have been present at the defeat of Lake Borgne, as to have 
been present at a signal victory. 

There is the same disagreement in the published accounts 
of the loss of the British on this occasion, as in the published 
accounts of their force. It was the opinion of Lieutenant 
Commandant Jones, who was carried on board the enemy's 
fleet, that their killed and wounded amounted to nearly 400 ; 
while other prisoners, who, from not having been wounded, 
had perhaps better opportunities for ascertaining facts of this na- 
ture, have never placed it lower than between 200 and 300 men. 
By the official statement of the enemy, as published, his loss 
was 94. As even this was more than half the number of the 
Americans engaged, it proves the gallantry of the resistance, 
but it is believed that the true account was varied for the pur- 
poses of effect. The American loss, though severe, was com- 
paratively trifling. 

The command of the naval force at New Orleans had been 
given to Captain Patterson, one of the young officers who had 
been a prisoner at Tripoli with Captain Bainbridge. Captain 
Patterson was a master commandant, and he was assisted by 
many excellent officers ; but his force was merely intended to 
command the river and the shallow waters in the vicinity of 
the town. A ship called the Louisiana had been purchased 
and armed with 16 long twenty-fours. Men were pressed in 
the streets for the emergency, under a law of the state, and 
the command of the vessel was given to Lieutenant C. B. 
Thompson. 

The enemy finding himself in command of Lake Borgne, 
by the capture of the gun-boats, sent up a brigade of troops, 
under Major General Keane, which succeeded in entering a 
bayou, and in landing but a few miles below the town. Here he 
encamped, after advancing to some hard ground, on the night of 
the 23d of December, with his left flank resting on the Mis- 
sissippi. No sooner was the position of the British known to 
the Americans, than General Jackson marched against them 
with all the disposable force he could assemble, making a to- 
tal of about 1500 men, and by a prompt and spirited night 
attack he saved New Orleans. The movements of the troops 
on this occasion, were preceded by Captain Patterson's drop- 
ping down abreast of the English bivouac, in the U. S. schooner 
Carolina 14, and opening a most galling fire. The excellent 
use made of this little vessel, on the 23d, as well as her con- 
tinuing to threaten the left flank of the enemy, materially con- 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 345 

tributcd to the general success of the campaign, there being 
no question that the check received by the English in the ac- 
tion just mentioned, alone prevented them from marching into 
New Orleans, from which town they were distant only a few 
miles. It had been intended that the Louisiana should join in 
this attack, but the ship could not be got ready in time. 

A few days later, however, the Carolina was very critically 
placed. The enemy had landed some guns, and the wind hav- 
ing blown fresh for some time at N. N. W., it had been found 
impossible to ascend the stream against a current that was 
even too strong for warping. The armament of the schooner 
consisted only of twelve-pound carronades, and one long gun 
of the same calibre. On the morning of the 27th, the wind 
being quite light at the northward, the enemy opened upon the 
Carolina with hot shot and shells, from a five-gun battery. 
The cannonade was returned from the long twelve, the only 
piece that could be used, but the schooner was soon set on 
fire, beneath her cable tiers, and a little after sunrise Captain 
Henley was compelled to give orders to abandon her. Before 
this could be effected, 7 men were killed and wounded, and the 
vessel was much injured by shot. Shortly after the crew had 
got on shore, the Carolina blew up. During four or five of 
the most critical days of the campaign, this little vessel ren- 
dered signal service, and the enemy have always paid a just 
tribute to the spirit, judgment, and intrepidity with which she 
was managed. Her behaviour on the night of the 23d, re- 
flected great credit on Captain Patterson, and on all under his 
orders. 

The Louisiana was now the only vessel in the river, and 
she covered the 'flank of the American lines. On board this 
ship Captain Patterson repaired, after the loss of the Carolina. 
On the morning of the 28th, an advance of the enemy against 
the American troops, drew a fire from and upon the ship, which 
was maintained for seven hours. In the course of this long 
cannonade, the Louisiana threw 800 shot among the enemy, 
suffering very little in return. 

After the destruction of the Carolina, her officers and people 
volunteered to man some of the heavy guns that were mounted 
on the American lines, and they had a share in all the subse- 
quent successes obtained on shore. Captain Patterson also erect- 
ed a battery on the right bank of the river, which was put up 
under the orders of Captain Henley, and was of material use. 
On the 8th of January the English made their grand assault, 
and were defeated with dreadful slaughter. In this cxtraordi- 



346 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

nary battle, the loss of the enemy was computed at from two 
to three thousand men ; more than two thousand having been 
killed and wounded. The seamen's battery on the right bank 
of the river was temporarily abandoned, but the Louisiana was 
of great use, and the officers and men of the service distin- 
guished themselves by their activity, zeal, and courage. On 
this occasion Captain Henley was wounded. One gun in par- 
ticular, commanded by Mr. Philibert, a midshipman, was serv- 
ed in a manner to attract general attention. The Louisiana 
continued to assist in annoying the enemy, until the night of 
the 18th, when the English retreated to their boats, and em- 
barked, abandoning their attempt altogether. 

Captain Patterson immediately despatched several officers, 
in command of expeditions, to intercept and annoy the enemy 
on their retreat, though the want of a direct communication 
between the river and the lakes, prevented the employment of 
any vessels larger than boats, on this service. Mr. Thomas 
Shields, a purser, who had previously been a sea-officer, and 
who had 6 boats and 50 men under his orders, was so fortu- 
nate as to capture one of the enemy's large boats, with 40 offi- 
cers and men of the 14th light dragoons, and 14 seamen on 
board. After securing these prisoners, Mr. Shields captured 
a barge and a transport schooner, and subsequently five other 
boats, making in all 83 more prisoners. Some skirmishing 
occurred, and Mr. Shields lost one or two of his prizes and a 
few of his prisoners ; but he succeeded in bringing in with him 
78 of the latter, besides destroying several boats. Mr. John- 
son, a sailing-master, also performed some service of the same 
nature with credit, destroying a transport and capturing a party 
of men. 

In all the important service performed in front of New Or- 
leans, during this short but arduous campaign, the navy had 
a full share, though its means were necessarily limited. Cap- 
tain Patterson, Captain Henley, Lieutenants Jones, Thompson, 
M'Keever, Spedden, Cunningham, Norris, Crowley, with sev- 
eral sailing-masters and midshipmen, distinguished themselves 
on different occasions. The service also witnessed with par- 
ticular satisfaction the intelligence and spirited conduct of Mr. 
Shields, an officer who had received his training in its own 
school. The marine corps had its share, too, in the honour 
of this glorious campaign, a small detachment of it having 
acted with its usual good conduct, under the command of Ma- 
jor Carmick, who was wounded in the affair of the 28th of 
December. 



1812] NAVAL HISTORY. 347 



CHAPTER XL. 

We have now reached a period when it has become proper 
to advert to events on the diftei'ent lakes, which were the scenes 
of some of the most important, as well as of the most interest- 
ing incidents of the war. In order to do this, it will be necessary 
to return to the commencement of hostilities, for the whole of 
this portion of the subject has been reserved, in order to lay it 
before the reader in a continued narrative, having no immediate 
connexion with the war on the ocean. 

The English government had long maintained a small naval 
force on the great lakes ; though much the larger portion of 
Champlain being within the jurisdiction of the United States, it 
had kept no cruiser on that water. On Lake Ontario, how- 
ever, there were several vessels, as early as the commence- 
ment of the century, one of which was a ship called the Earl 
of Moira. When the American government caused the Oneida 
16 to be built, that of the Canadas laid down the keel of a ship 
called the Royal George, which was pierced for 22 guns, 
and which was about one-half larger than the American 
vessel. 

The Oneida was manned and equipped at the declaration of 
the war, and was still under the command of Mr. Woolsey, 
who had built her four years previously. The naval station 
on the American side of the lake, was at Sackett's Harbour, a 
beautiful and safe basin, not far from the commencement of 
the St. Lawrence ; while that of the British was nearly oppo- 
site, at Kingston. The enemy, however, had greatly the ad- 
vantage in ports, those of the north shore of this lake being 
generally the most commodious and easy of entrance, though 
probably not as numerous as those of the south. The English 
also possessed a material advantage over the Americans, in 
all the warfare of this region of country, whether on the water, 
or on the land, in the age and more advanced civilisation, and, 
consequently, in the greater resources of the settlements on 
their southern frontier, over those on the northern frontier of 
the United States. 

The great superiority of the enemy in force, notwithstanding 
his known inferiority in discipline and comparative efficiency, 



348 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

prevented Lieutenant Commandant Woolsey from inviting hos- 
tilities, which were permitted to come from the enemy. On 
the 1 9th of July, or about a month after war was declared, five 
sail were discovered from the fort at Sackett's Harbour, a few 
leagues in the offing ; and shortly after, they captured a boat 
belonging to the custom-house, which they sent in, with a de- 
mand that the Oneida should be surrendered to them, as well 
as a schooner called the Lord Nelson, that had been captured 
not long before by the brig. The Oneida now got under way, 
and ran down, to windward of the enemy's squadron, to try 
her sailing, and, if possible, to pass it, with a view to escape. 
Finding the latter impracticable, however, Lieutenant Com- 
mandant Woolsey beat back into the harbour, and anchored 
his brig close under a bank, where she could rake the entrance. 
All the guns of her oft* side were landed and mounted on the 
shore, presenting a force of 16 twenty-four-pound carronades 
in battery. On a height that commanded the offing, as well 
as the entrance, was a small fort ; and here a long thirty-two- 
pounder, that had been originally intended for the Oneida, in 
her legal character of a gun-boat, was mounted ; and the 
enemy still remaining outside, Mr. Woolsey repaired to the 
spot, and took charge of the piece in person. 

The enemy kept turning to windward, and having got 
within gun-shot, he opened a slow, irregular, and ill-directed 
fire on the fort, brig, and batteries. His fire was returned ; 
and, after a cannonade of about two hours, the English vessels 
bore up, and stood back towards Kingston. This was the 
commencement of hostilities on the lakes, and it fully proved 
the incompetency of the officers in charge of the enemy's force, 
for the duty with which they had been entrusted. The English 
vessels consisted of the Royal George 22, Prince Regent 16, 
Earl of Moira 14, Duke of Gloucester, Seneca, and the Simcoe. 
On the part of the Americans, no harm was done ; while the 
enemy is believed to have received some trifling injuries. 

It is probable that the government of Canada was itself dis- 
satisfied with the result of this first experiment of its naval 
forces, for soon after arrangements were made to send officers 
and men who belonged to the royal navy, upon the lakes. It 
was apparent to both nations, that the command of the inland 
waters was of great importance in carrying on the war of the 
frontiers, and each of the belligerents commenced systematic 
operations to obtain it. As the enemy was already much the 
strongest on Ontario, it was incumbent on the American go- 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 349 

vernment to take the first measures, and it set about them in 
earnest, very shortly after the beginning of hostilities. It being 
evident that the command was one of the most important that 
had ever been confided to an American officer, great care was 
necessary in the selection of the individual to whom this highly 
responsible and arduous duty was to be entrusted. The choice 
of the department fell on Captain Isaac Chauncey, then at the 
head of the New York navy-yard. His orders were dated 
August 31st, 1812, and on the 6th of October, he arrived at 
Sackett's Harbour in person. Forty ship-carpenters left New 
York in the first week of September, and more followed im- 
mediately. Instructions were sent to Mr. Woolsey, to pur- 
chase sundry small merchant vessels ; and on the 18th of Sep- 
tember, 100 officers and seamen left New York for Sackett's 
Harbour, with guns, shot, stores, &c. 

The vessels used by the Americans in the navigation of 
Lake Ontario, were schooners, varying in size from 30 to 100 
tons ; and the first measure of Commodore Chauncey was to 
purchase a sufficient number of these craft to obtain the com- 
mand of the lake, until others better fitted for war could be 
constructed. A selection of the most eligible was accordingly 
made by Mr. Woolsey ; they were bought, armed, equipped, 
manned, and put into the service, under the names of the 
Hamilton, Governor Tompkins, Conquest, Growler, Julia, Pert, 
&c, &c. Neither of these schooners had the construction or 
the qualities requisite for a vessel of war, but they were the best 
for the service contemplated that could then be found on those 
waters. Without quarters, their armaments consisted princi- 
pally of long guns, mounted on circles, with a few of a lighter 
description, that could be of no material service, except in re- 
pelling boarders. The keel of a ship to mount 24 thirty-two- 
pound carronades, however, was laid down in September, or 
before the commanding officer reached the station. 

In conjunction with the Oneida, the entire flotilla that could 
be made immediately available mounted 40 guns, and it was 
manned with 430 men, the marines included. As the arma- 
ment of the Oneida was just 16 guns, it follows that there was 
an average of 4 guns each, among the six other vessels. At 
this time, the enemy was said to possess on Ontario, the Royal 
George 22, Earl of Moira 14, both ships; and the schooners 
Prince Regent 16, Duke of Gloucester 14, Simcoe 12, and 
Seneca 4 ; making a force in guns, more than double that of 
the Americans, with a proportionate disparity in the number of 
30 



350 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

the men. As cruising vessels, the enemy's squadron pos- 
sessed an advantage in their size and construction, that greatly 
increased their superiority. 

Previously to the war of 1812, there was no vessel on the 
upper lakes, that properly belonged to the American marine. 
A brig, called the Adams, however, had been" constructed on 
these waters, for the convenience of the war department, 
which, under its own officers, had long found it useful in the 
transportation of stoves and military supplies. By the capture 
of Michigan, the Adams fell into the hands of the enemy, who 
changed her name to the Detroit, and took her into their ser- 
vice. At this time, the enemy possessed two or three other 
vessels on the upper lakes, and of course, this capture, for the 
moment, gave them complete command of the waters be- 
tween the outlet of Lake Erie and the head of Lake Mich- 
igan. 

With a view to counteract this ascendency, Lieutenant J. 
D. Elliot was sent by Commodore Chauncey to the upper 
lakes, about the time that the latter officer appeared at Sack- 
ett's Harbour, with directions to purchase any suitable vessels 
that might be found, and to make preparations also for the 
creation of the necessary force in that quarter. While Mr. 
Elliot was thus employed, a fortunate concurrence of circum- 
stances, put it in the power of this officer to plan a blow at the 
enemy, of which he availed himself with a spirit and prompti- 
tude that were highly creditable. On the morning of the 7th 
of October, the Detroit came down the lake, in company with 
another brig, called the Caledonia, and anchored under Fort 
Erie; and that very day intelligence was received that the 
first party of seamen intended for the lake, was within a short 
march of the Niagara frontier. Orders were accordingly sent 
to hasten their arrival, which actually took place about noon 
of the same day. 

Finding that the men were without arms, Mr. Elliot applied 
to Brigadier General Smythe, the officer in command of the 
troops on that frontier, who not only furnished the necessary 
means, but who permitted about fifty soldiers to volunteer to 
aid in the enterprise. 

Two of the large boats used in those waters, containing 
about 50 men each, partly seamen and partly soldiers, were 
prepared for the service, and a small boat, or two, were 
manned by a few citizens. The party attempted to pull out 
of Buffalo Creek, early in the evening of the 7th ; but the large 



1812J NAVAL HISTORY. 351 

boats grounded on the bar. Here some delay occurred, it being 
found necessary for most on board to get into the water, before 
they could make the boats float again. It was consequently 
much later when the adventurers reached the stream. 

As the enemy lay near their own shore, the party pulled 
some distance up the lake in order to get above his vessels, 
before they edged away. It was past midnight when they got 
near the two brigs, the Detroit lying highest up stream, and 
farthest from the land. The boat destined to attack the Cale- 
donia was directed to lead, in order that both vessels might be 
assaulted as nearly as possible at the same moment. This 
boat was under the orders of Mr. Watts, a sailing-master, sup- 
ported by Captain Towsonof the artillery; while Mr. Elliott, 
in person, had charge of the other boat, in which were Lieu- 
tenant Roach of the artillery, and Ensign Pressman of the 
infantry. 

As the leading boat crossed the bow of the Detroit, the en- 
emy took the .alarm, and the party of Mr. Elliott, as it ap- 
proached, received two volleys of musketry. Without regard- 
ing this, both boats pulled steadily on, that which led reaching 
the Caledonia in proper time, but it would seem that one of the 
grapnels missed, and -she fell so far astern as to allow the en- 
emy to make a stout resistance. Here the decision and spirit 
of Captain Towson were of material service, and the vessel 
was captured. Lieutenant Roach of the army, who was ac- 
customed to the duty, steered the boat of Mr. Elliott, which 
was laid alongside of the Detroit with great steadiness and ac- 
curacy, when the party went aboard of the enemy, Lieutenants 
Elliott and Roach leading. The former had a narrow escape, 
his hat having been struck from his head, and at the same in- 
stant he nearly cleft the skull of the English commander, who 
discovered the greatest resolution. Being well supported, this 
brig was carried with great rapidity. 

In this handsome affair one man was killed, and a few were 
wounded, including Mr. Cummings a midshipman, in the boat 
of Mr. Elliott ; while that of Mr. Watts, owing to the circum- 
stance mentioned, sustained rather more loss. Mr. Elliott re- 
ported the Detroit as carrying six long nines, and to have had 
a crew of fifty-six souls. The Caledonia mounted but two 
guns, and had a much smaller complement of men. About 
thirty American prisoners were found in the former vessel, and 
ten in the latter. 

The Caledonia was brought successfully over to the Ameri- 



352 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

can side, but the Detroit met with greater difficulty. Mr. El- 
liott found himself obliged to drop down the river, passing the 
forts under a brisk fire, and anchoring within reach of their 
guns. Here a cannonade took place, during which fruitless 
efforts were made to get lines to the American shore, in order 
to warp the brig across. Finding himself assailed by the guns 
of the enemy's works, as well as by some light artillery, Mr. 
Elliott determined to cut, and drop out of the reach of the first, 
believing himself able to resist the last. This plan succeeded 
in part, but the pilot having left the vessel, she brought up on 
Squaw Island. The prisoners were now sent on shore, and 
shortly after Mr. Elliott left her, with a view to obtain assist- 
ance. About this time the enemy boarded the prize, but were 
soon driven out of her, by the artillery of Lieutenant Colonel 
Scott, the Detroit being commanded equally by the guns on 
both sides of the Niagara. Under such circumstances, the 
vessel was effectually rendered unfit for service, and in the end, 
after removing most of her stores, she was burned by the 
Americans. 

This was the first naval success obtained by either nation, 
in the warfare on the lakes, and it was deemed a fortunate 
commencement for the Americans, on waters where they might 
hope to contend with their powerful foes on an equality. The 
conduct of Mr. Elliott was much applauded, and Congress 
voted him a sword. His promptitude and decision were of 
great service, and it adds to the merit of all engaged, that the 
Caledonia was thought to be a brig of a force much superior 
to what she proved to be, when they left the shore. The army 
had an equal share, in the credit of this dashing little enter- 
prise, Captain Towson, who, in effect, commanded one of the 
boats, though it was necessarily managed by a sea-officer, hav- 
ing particularly shown decision and conduct. The names of 
Lieutenant Roach of the artillery, Ensign Pressman of the 
infantry, and of several volunteers from Buffalo, were also 
included in the eulogies of the commanding officer. 

Not long after this successful exploit, part of the crew of 
the John Adams 28, which had been laid up at New York, 
reached Buffalo, to help man the vessels government intended to 
equip on Lake Erie. Mr. Angus, his senior officer, accompa- 
nying this party, and there being a want of lieutenants on the 
other lake, Mr. Elliott now went below to join the force im- 
mediately under the orders of Commodore Chauncey. Before 
quitting this station, however, this officer had contracted for 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 353 

several schooners, that lay in the Niagara, but which it was 
subsequently found difficult to get into the lake on account of 
the enemy's batteries. 

Commodore Chauncey first appeared on the lake on the 8th 
of November, with his broad pennant flying on board the Onei- 
da 16, Lieutenant Commandant Woolsey, and having in com- 
pany the Conquest, Lieutenant Elliott ; Hamilton, Lieutenant 
M'Pherson ; Governor Tompkins, Lieutenant Brown ; Pert, 
Mr. Arundel ; Julia, Mr. Trant ; and Growler, Mr. Mix ; the 
three last named officers holding the rank of sailing-masters. 
The object in going out, was to intercept the return of the en- 
emy's vessels, most of which were known to have been to the 
westward, conveying supplies to the army at Kingston. In 
order to effect this purpose, the American squadron, or flotilla, 
for it scarcely merited the former term, went off the False 
Ducks, some small islands that lie in the track of vessels keep- 
ing the north shore aboard. As it approached the intended 
station, a ship was made in-shore. She was soon ascertained 
to be the Royal George, then much the largest vessel that had 
ever been constructed on the inland waters of America. That 
a ship of her force should feel it necessary to retire before the 
Oneida, must be attributed to the circumstance of her not be- 
ing properly officered, the enemy not having yet made their 
drafts from the royal navy for the service on the lakes. Com- 
modore Chauncey chased the Royal George into the Bay of 
Quinte, and lost sight of her in the night. The next morning, 
however, she was seen again, lying in the narrow passage that 
leads down to Kingston. Signal was immediately made for a 
general chase, which was vigorously kept up, with alternate 
squalls and light airs, until the enemy was fairly driven in 
under the protection of his own batteries. 

Although the wind blew directly in, and made a retreat dif- 
ficult, Commodore Chauncey decided to follow the enemy, and 
feel his means of defence, with an intention of laying the ship 
aboard, should it be found practicable. Arrangements for that 
purpose were accordingly made, and a little before 3 P. M. 
the vessels that were up, got into their stations, and stood to- 
wards the mouth of the harbour. The Conquest, Lieutenant 
Elliott, led in handsome style, followed by the Julia, Mr. Trant, 
Pert, Mr. Arundel, and Growler, Mr. Mix, in the order named. 
The Oneida brought up the rear, it being intended to give time 
for the heavy guns of the schooners to open the way for a 
closer attack by the brig. The Hamilton and Governor Tomp- 
30* 



354 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

kins were a considerable distance astern, having been sent to 
chase, and did not close for some time. 

At five minutes past 3, the batteries on India and Navy 
Points opened on the Conquest, but their fire was not returned 
until seven minutes later. In three minutes after the Conquest 
commenced firing, she was joined by the other three schooners 
in advance. The gun of the Pert bursted at the third dis- 
charge. By this accident, Mr. Arundel, her commander, was 
badly, and a midshipman and three men were slightly wound- 
ed. The vessel was rendered, in a great degree, useless for 
the remainder of the day. The Oneida, though under fire for 
some time previously, did not open with her carronades on the 
Royal George, until forty minutes past 3 ; but when she did 
commence, the enemy was soon thrown into confusion, and at 
4 P. M. he cut his cables, ran deeper into the bay, and made 
fast to a wharf, directly under the protection of the muskets 
of the troops. Here, a part of her people actually deserted her, 
though they subsequently returned on board. Soon after, the 
Governor Tompkins, Lieutenant Brown, bore up off the har- 
bour in a beautiful manner, and engaged, having been preceded 
some time, with equal gallantry, by the Hamilton, Lieutenant 
M'Pherson. The action became warm and general, and was 
maintained with spirit for half an hour, the enemy firing from 
five batteries, the ship, and some moveable guns. It was now 
so near night, the wind blew so directly in, and the weather 
looked so threatening, that the pilots declared their unwilling- 
ness to be responsible any longer for the vessels : and Commo- 
dore Chauncey, who found the enemy much stronger on shore 
than he had been taught to believe, made the signal for the 
flotilla to haul off. When an offing of about two miles had 
been gained, the squadron anchored, with an intention to renew 
the attack in the morning. 

In this spirited affair, which partook of the character of the 
assaults on Tripoli, and which, after a due allowance is made 
for the difference in the force employed, was probably inferior 
to none of the cannonades on that town, for gallantry and 
vigour, the Americans suffered much less than might have 
been expected. The Oneida had one man killed and three 
wounded, and she received some damage aloft. The other 
vessels escaped even better, the audacity of the attack, as is so 
often the case, producing a sort of impunity. Mr. Arundel, of 
the Pert, however, who had refused to quit the deck, though 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 355 

badly wounded, was unfortunately knocked overboard and 
drowned, while the vessel was beating up to her anchorage. 

The vessels shortly after returned to port, bringing in with 
them two or three small prizes. 

Intelligence reaching Commodore Chauncey that the Earl 
of Moira was off the Ducks, he sailed on the 13th with the 
Oneida, in a snow storm, to capture her ; but the enemy was 
too much on the alert to be caught by surprise, and the dis- 
tances on the lake were too short to admit of his being easily 
overtaken in chase. The Oneida saw the Royal George and 
two schooners, but even these three vessels were not disposed 
to engage the American brig singly. The two schooners in 
company with the Royal George on this occasion, were sup- 
posed to be the Prince Regent and the Duke of Gloucester. 
Commodore Chauncey then went off Oswego to cover some 
stores expected by water. During this short cruise the Oneida 
narrowly escaped shipwreck, and the ice made so fast, that at 
one time, it would have been impossible to work the carronades 
had there been a necessity for it. The Conquest, Tompkins, 
Growler, and Hamilton, notwithstanding, continued to cruise 
off Kingston, until the 17th of November. On the 19th the 
Commodore attempted to go to the head of the lake, but was 
driven back by a gale, during which so much ice was made 
as to endanger the vessels. The Growler was dismasted. 
Early in December the navigation closed for the season. 

While these events were occurring on the lower lake, tho 
navy was not altogether unemployed on the upper waters. 
Towards the close of November, it was believed that the ar- 
rangements were in a sufficient degree of forwardness to admit 
of an attempt to drive the enemy from the batteries that lined 
the opposite shore of the Niagara in order to clear the way for 
the landing of a brigade of troops. To aid it in executing this 
important service, the army naturally turned its eyes for pro- 
fessional assistance towards the body of seamen collected at 
this point. 

The men of the John Adams had encamped in the woods, 
near the river, and finding the enemy in the practice of can- 
nonading across the Niagara, shortly after their arrival they 
dove into the wreck of the Detroit, at night, made fast to, and 
succeeded in raising four of that vessel's guns, with a large 
quantity of shot. These pieces were mounted in battery, and 
a desultory cannonading was maintained, by both parties, until 
the arrival of some heavy guns from the seaboard, when the 



356 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

Americans got a force in battery, that enabled them completely 
to maintain their ground against their adversaries. In this 
manner, more than a month had passed, when the application 
was made to Mr. Angus, for some officers and seamen to assist 
in carrying and silencing the batteries opposite, in order to 
favour the intended descent. The arrangements were soon 
completed, and the morning of the 28th of November was 
chosen for the undertaking. 

The contemplated invasion having separate points in view, 
the expedition was divided into two parties. One, commanded 
by Captain King of the 15th infantry, was directed to ascend 
the current a little, in order to reach its point of attack, while 
the other was instructed to descend it, in about an equal pro- 
portion. The first being much the most arduous at the oars, 
the seamen were wanted especially for this service. Mr. 
Angus accordingly embarked in 10 boats, with 70 men, ex- 
clusively of officers, and accompanied by Captain King, at the 
head of a detachment of 150 soldiers. With this party went 
Mr. Samuel Swartwout of New York, as a volunteer. Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Boerstler commanded 10 more boats, which 
conveyed the detachment, about 200 strong, that was to de- 
scend with the current. 

The division containing the seamen left the American shore 
about 1 A. M. with muffled oars, and pulled deliberately, 
and in beautiful order into the stream. That the enemy was 
ready to meet them is certain, and it is probable he was 
aware of an intention to cross that very night. Still all was 
quiet on the Canada side, until the boats had passed out of the 
shadows of the forest into a stronger light, when they were 
met with a discharge of musketry and a fire from two field-pieces, 
that were placed in front of some barracks known by the name 
of the Red House. The effect of this reception was to produce 
a little confusion and disorder, and some of the officers and a 
good many men being killed or wounded, all the boats did not 
gain the shore. Those in which efficient officers remained, 
however, dashed on, in the handsomest manner, and the seamen 
in them landed in an instant. A body of the enemy was 
drawn up in front of the barracks, with their left flank covered 
by the two guns. As soon as the troops could be formed, the 
enemy's fire was returned and a short conflict occurred. At 
this juncture a small party of seamen armed with pikes and 
pistols, headed by Mr. Watts, a sailing-master, and Mr. Hold- 
up, made a detour round the foot of the hill, and charging the 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 357 

artillerists, took the guns in the most gallant manner, mortally 
wounding and capturing Lieutenant King, who .commanded 
them. At the same instant the remaining seamen and the 
troops charged in front, when the enemy broke and took refuge 
in the barracks. 

The enemy's fire was now very destructive, and it became 
indispensable to dislodge him. Several spirited young mid- 
shipmen were with the party ; and three of them, Messrs. 
Wragg, Holdup, and Dudley, with a ie\v men, succeeded in 
bursting open a window, through which they made an entrance. 
This gallant little party unbarred an outer door, when Mr. 
Angus and the seamen rushed in. In an instant, the straw on 
which the soldiers slept was on fire, and the barracks were 
immediately wrapt in flames. The enemy, a party of grena- 
diers, was on the upper floor, and finding it necessary to re- 
treat, he made a vigorous charge, and escaped by the rear of 
the building. Here he rallied, and was attacked by Captain 
King, who had formed outside. 

The party of seamen and soldiers now got separated, in con- 
sequence of an order having been given to retreat, though it is 
not known from what quarter it proceeded, and a portion of 
both the seamen and the soldiers fell back upon the boats and 
re-embarked. Mr. Angus, finding every effort useless to stop 
this retreat, retired with his men. But Captain King, with a 
party of the troops, still remained engaged, and with him were 
a few seamen, with Messrs. Wragg, Dudley, and Holdup at 
their head. These young officers fell in with the soldiers, and 
a charge being ordered, the enemy again broke and fled into a 
battery. He was followed, and driven from place to place, 
until, entirely routed, he left Captain King in complete com- 
mand of all the batteries at that point. 

Believing that their part of the duty was performed, the 
young sea-officers who had remained, now retired to the shore, 
and crossed to the American side, in the best manner they 
could. Most of the seamen, who were not killed, got back, 
by means of their professional knowledge ; but Captain King, 
and several officers of the army, with 60 men, fell into the 
enemy's hands, in consequence of not having the means of 
retreat. The attack of Colonel Boerstler succeeded, in a great 
degree, and his party was brought off. 

Although this affair appears to have been very confused, the 
fighting was of the most desperate character. The impression 
made by the seamen with their pikes, was long remembered, 



358 NAVAL HISTORY. [1812. 

and their loss was equal to their gallantry. The enemy was 
effectually beaten, and nothing but a misunderstanding, which 
is said to have grown out of the fact that the boats which did 
not come ashore at all, were supposed to have landed and then 
retreated, prevented the attack from being completely success- 
ful. Still, the batteries were carried, guns spiked, barracks 
burned, and caissons destroyed. 

Owing to the nature of the service and the great steadiness 
of the enemy, who behaved extremely well, this struggle was 
exceedingly sanguinary. Of twelve sea-officers engaged, eight 
were wounded, two of them mortally. The entire loss of the 
party was about 30 in killed and wounded, which was quite 
half of all who landed, though some were hurt who did not 
reach the shore. The troops behaved in the most gallant 
manner also, and many of their officers were wounded. Both 
Mr. Angus and Captain King, gained great credit for their 
intrepidity. 

As none of the great lakes are safe to navigate in Decembei-j 
this closed the naval warfare for the year, though both nations 
prepared to turn the winter months to the best account, while 
the coasts were ice-bound. 



CHAPTER XLI. 

Both parties employed the winter of 1812-13 in building. 
In the course of the autumn, the Americans had increased 
their force to eleven sail, ten of which were the small schoon- 
ers bought from the merchants, and fitted with gun-boat arma- 
ments, without quarters. In addition to the vessels already 
named, were the Ontario, Scourge, Fair American and Asp. 
Neither of the ten was fit to cruise ; and an ordinary eighteen- 
gun brig ought to have been able to cope with them all, in a 
good working breeze, at close quarters. At long shot, how- 
ever, and in smooth water, they were not without a certain 
efficiency. As was proved in the end, in attacking batteries, 
and in covering descents, they were found to be exceedingly 
serviceable. 

On the 26th of November, the new ship was launched at 



1812.] NAVAL HISTORY. 359 

Sackett's Harbour, and was called the Madison. She was 
pierced for 24 guns, and her metal was composed of thirty- 
two-pound carronades, rendering her a little superior to the 
Royal George. Nine weeks before this ship was put into the 
water, her timber was growing in the forest. This unusual 
expedition, under so many unfavourable circumstances, is to 
be ascribed to the excellent dispositions of the commanding 
officer, and to the clear head, and extraordinary resources of 
Mr. Henry Eckford, the builder employed, whose professional 
qualities proved to be of the highest order. 

On the other hand, the enemy laid the keel of a ship a little 
larger than the Madison, which would have effectually secured 
the command of the lake, notwithstanding the launching of the 
latter, as their small vessels were altogether superior to those 
of the Americans"; and the Royal George was perhaps strong 
enough to engage two brigs of the force of the Oneida. It 
became necessary, therefore, to lay down a new ship at Sack- 
ett's Harbour, and for this purpose a fresh gang of shipwrights 
went up in February. 

About this time, the enemy made choice of Captain Sir James 
Lucas Yeo, to command on the American lakes. 

In the meantime, preparations were made for constructing a 
force on Lake Erie, two brigs having been laid down at 
Presque Isle, (now Erie,) during the month of March. 
. Fresh parties of seamen began to arrive at Kingston in 
March, where the new ship was fast getting ready. 

On the 6th of April Mr. Eckford put into the water, on the 
American side, a beautiful little pilot-boat schooner, that was 
intended for a look-out and despatch vessel. She was armed 
with merely one long brass nine on a pivot, and was called the 
Lady of the Lake. Two days later, the keel of the new ship 
was laid. She was considerably larger than the Madison. 

About the middle of the month, the lake was considered 
safe to navigate, and on the 19th, the squadron was reported 
ready for active service. On the 22d, accordingly, General 
Dearborn caused a body of 1700 men to be embarked, and on 
the 24th, owing to the impatience of the army, which suffered 
much by being crowded into small vessels, an attempt was- 
made to get out. The commodore, however, agreeably to his 
own expectations, was obliged to return, it blowing a gale. 
These few days had a very injurious effect on the health of 
both branches of the service, as there was not sufficient room 
for the men to remain below, and on deck they were exposed 



360 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

to the inclemency of the season. The Madison alone, a mere 
sloop of war, had 600 souls in her, including her own people. 
On the 25th, however, the squadron, consisting of the Madi- 
son, Lieutenant Commandant Elliott, Commodore Chauncey ; 
Oneida, Lieutenant Commandant Woolsey ; Fair American, 
Lieutenant Chauncey ; Hamilton, Lieutenant M'Pherson ; Go- 
vernor Tompkins, Lieutenant Brown ; Conquest, Mr. Mallaby ; 
Asp, Lieutenant Smith ; Pert, Lieutenant Adams ; Julia, Mr. 
Trant; Growler, Mr. Mix; Ontario, Mr. Stevens; Scourge, 
Mr. Osgood ; Lady of the Lake, Mr. Flinn ; and Raven, trans- 
port, got out, and it arrived off York, on the morning of the 
26th, without loss of any sort. All the vessels ran in and an- 
chored about a mile from the shore, to the southward and west- 
ward of the principal fort. 

Great steadiness and promptitude were displayed in effecting 
a landing. The wind was blowing fresh from the eastward, 
but the boats were hoisted out, manned, and received the 
troops, with so much order, that in two hours from the com- 
mencement of the disembarkation, the whole brigade was on 
shore, under the command of Brigadier General Pike. The 
wind drove the boats to leeward of the place that had been 
selected for the landing, which was a clear field, to a point 
where the Indians and sharp-shooters of the enemy had a co- 
ver ; but the advance party was thrown ashore with great gal- 
lantry, and it soon cleared the bank and thickets, with a losa 
of about 40 men. This movement was covered by a rapid 
discharge of grape from the vessels. As soon as a sufficient 
number of troops had got ashore, they were formed by General 
Pike in person, who moved on to the assault. The small ves- 
sels now beat up, under a brisk fire from the fort and batteries, 
until they had got within six hundred yards of the principal 
work, when they opened with effect on the enemy, and contri- 
buted largely to the success of the day. The commodore 
directed the movements in person, pulling in in his gig, and 
encouraging his officers by the coolness with which he moved 
about, under the enemy's fire. There never was a disem- 
barkation more successfully, or more spiritedly made, consi- 
dering the state of the weather, and the limited means of the 
assailants. In effecting this service, the squadron had two 
midshipmen slain, and 15 men killed and wounded, mostly 
while employed in the boats. After sustaining some loss by 
an explosion that killed Brigadier General Pike, the troops so 
far carried the place, that it capitulated. It remained in peace- 



18J3] NAVAL HISTORY. 361 

able possession of the Americans until the 1st of May, when 
it was evacuated to proceed on other duty. 

The capture of York was attended with many important 
results, that fully established the wisdom of the enterprise. 
Although the Prince Regent, the third vessel of the enemy, 
escaped, by having sailed on the 24th for Kingston, the Duke 
of Gloucester, which had been undergoing repairs, fell into 
the hands of the Americans. A vessel of twenty guns, that 
was nearly finished, was burnt, and a large amount of naval 
and military stores was also destroyed. A very considerable 
quantity of the latter, however, was saved, shipped, and sent 
to Sackett's Harbour. Many boats that had been built for the 
transportation of troops were also taken. In the entire man- 
agement of this handsome exploit, the different vessels appear 
to have been well conducted, and they contributed largely to 
the complete success which crowned the enterprise. 

Although the brigade re-embarked on the 1st of May, the 
squadron was detained at York until the 8th, by a heavy ad- 
verse gale of wind. The men were kept much on deck for 
more than a week, and the exposure produced many cases of 
fever, in both branches of the service. More than a hundred 
of the sailors were reported ill, and the brigade, which had 
lost 269 men in the attack, the wounded included, was now 
reduced by disease to about 1000 effectives. As soon as the 
weather permitted, the commanding naval and army officers 
crossed in the Lady of the Lake, and selected a place for an 
encampment about four miles to the eastward of Fort Niagara, 
when the vessels immediately followed and the troops disem- 
barked. 

As soon as released from this great incumbrance on his 
movements, Commodore Chauncey sailed for the Harbour, 
with a view to obtain supplies, and to bring up reinforcements 
for the army. A few of the schooners remained near the 
head of the lake, but the greater part of the squadron went 
below, where it arrived on the 11th. The small vessels were 
now employed in conveying stores and troops to the division 
under General Dearborn, which was reinforcing fast by arri- 
vals from different directions. 

On the 15th of this month the enemy had advanced so far 
with his new ship, which was called the Wolfe, as to have got 
in her lower masts, and expedition became necessary, an ac- 
tion for the command of the lake being expected, as soon as 
this vessel was ready to come out. On the 16th, 100 men 
31 



362 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

were sent to the upper lakes, where Captain Perry, then a 
young master and commander, had been ordered to assume 
the command, some months previously. On the 22d, the Ma- 
dison, with the commodore's pennant still flying in her, em- 
barked 350 troops, and sailed for the camp to the eastward of 
the mouth of the Niagara, where she arrived and disembarked 
the men on the 25th. The Fair American, Lieutenant Chaun- 
cey, and Pert, Acting Lieutenant Adams, were immediately 
ordered down to watch the movements of the enemy at King- 
ston, and preparations were made, without delay, for a descent 
on Fort George. On the 26th Commodore Chauncey recon- 
noitred the enemy's coast, and his position ; and that night he 
sounded his shore, in person, laying buoys for the government 
of the movements of the small vessels, which it was intended 
to send close in. The weather being more favourable, the 
Madison, Oneida, and Lady of the Lake, which could be of 
no use in the meditated attack, on account of their armaments, 
received on board all the heavy artillery of the army, and as 
many troops as they could carry, while the rest of the soldiers 
embarked in boats. 

At 3 A. M., on the 27th of May, the signal was made to 
weigh, and the army having previously embarked, at 4 the 
squadron stood towards the Niagara. As the vessels ap- 
proached the point of disembarkation, the wind so far failed, 
as to compel the small vessels to employ their sweeps. The 
Growler, Mr. Mix, and Julia, Mr. Trant, swept into the mouth 
of the river, and opened on a battery near the lighthouse. 
The Ontario, Mr. Stevens, anchored more to the northward to 
cross their fire. The Hamilton, Lieutenant M'Pherson, the 
Asp, Lieutenant Smith, and the Scourge, Mr. Osgood, were di- 
rected to stand close in, to cover the landing, to scour the 
woods, or any point where the enemy might show himself, 
with grape-shot ; while the Governor Tompkins, Lieutenant 
Brown, and Conquest, Lieutenant Pettigrew, were sent farther 
to the westward to attack a battery that mounted one heavy 
gun. 

Captain Perry had come down from the upper lake on the 
evening of the 25th, and on this occasion was the sea-officer 
second in rank, present. Commodore Chauncey confided to 
him the duty of attending to the disembarkation of the troops. 
The marines of the squadron were embodied with the regiment 
of Colonel Macomb, and 400 seamen held in reserve, to land, 



1313.] NAVAL HISTORY. 363 

if necessary, under the immediate orders of the commodore in 
person. 

When all was ready, the schooners swept into their stations, 
in the handsomest manner, opening their fire with effect. The 
boats that contained the advance party, under Colonel Scott, 
were soon in motion, taking a direction towards the battery near 
Two Mile Creek, against which the Governor Tompkins and 
Conquest had been ordered to proceed. The admirable man- 
ner in which the first of these two little vessels was conducted, 
drew the applause of all who witnessed it, on Mr. Brown and 
his people. This officer swept into his station, under fire, in 
the steadiest manner, anchored, furled his sails, cleared his 
decks, and prepared to engage, with as much coolness and 
method, as if coming-to in a friendly port. He then opened 
with his long gun, with a precision that, in about ten minutes, 
literally drove the enemy from the battery, leaving the place to 
his dead. The boats dashed in, under Captain Perry, and 
Colonel Scott effected a landing with the steadiness and gal- 
lantry for which that officer is so distinguished. The enemy 
had concealed a strong party in a ravine, and he advanced to 
repel the boats ; but the grape and the canister of the schooners, 
and the steady conduct of the troops, soon drove him back. 
The moment the command of Colonel Scott got ashore, the suc- 
cess of the day was assured. He was sustained by the re- 
mainder of the brigade to which he belonged, then commanded 
by Brigadier General Boyd, and after a short but sharp con- 
flict, the enemy was driven from the field. The landing was 
made about 9 A. M., and by 12 M. the town and fort wei*e in 
quiet possession of the Americans, the British blowing up and 
evacuating the latter, and retreating towards Queenston. 

In this handsome affair, in which the duty of the vessels was 
performed with coolness and method, the navy had but one man 
killed and two wounded. So spirited, indeed, was the manner 
in which the whole duty was conducted, that the assailants 
generally suffered much less than the assailed, a circumstance 
that is, in a great measure, to be ascribed to the good conduct 
of the covering vessels. General Dearborn reported his loss, 
on this occasion, at only 17 killed and 45 wounded, while he 
puts that of the enemy at. 90 killed, and 160 wounded, most of 
whom were regular troops. One hundred prisoners were also 
made. 

Both the commanding general, and the commanding sea- 
officer, spoke in the highest terms of the conduct of the naval 



364 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

force employed in the descent on Fort George. General Dear- 
born admitted the extent of his obligations to Commodore 
Chauncey for the excellent dispositions he had made for land- 
ing the troops, always a service of delicacy and hazard, and 
his judicious arrangements for silencing the batteries, under 
the fire of which it was necessary to approach the shore. The 
trifling amount of the loss, is the best evidence how much these 
thanks were merited. Commodore Chauncey himself com- 
mended all under his orders, though he felt it due to their es- 
pecial services, particularly to mention Captain Perry, and 
Lieutenant M'Pherson. Lieutenant Brown, of the Governor 
Tompkins, was signally distinguished, though his name, from 
some accident, was omitted in the despatches. 

The occupation of Fort George brought with it an evacuation 
by the British of the whole Niagara frontier. Lieutenant 
Colonel Preston took possession of Fort Erie on the evening of 
the 28th, and the entire river, for the moment, was left at the 
command of the Americans. By this success, the squadron 
obtained the temporary use of another port, Commodore Chaun- 
cey running into the Niagara and anchoring, on the afternoon 
of the 27th. Captain Perry was immediately despatched above 
the falls, with a small party of seamen, to carry up five vessels 
that had been purchased, or captured, and which it had not 
been practicable, hitherto, to get past the enemy's batteries. 
This duty was performed during the first days of June, though 
not without infinite labour, as it was found necessary to track 
the different vessels by the aid of oxen, every inch of the way, 
against the strong current of the Niagara, a party of soldiers 
lending their assistance. By the close of the month, that zea- 
lous officer had got them all across the lake to Presque Isle, 
where the two brigs, laid down early in the spring, were 
launched in the course of May, though their equipment pro- 
ceeded very slowly, from the state of the roads and a want of 
men. 



1813] NAVAL HISTORY. 365 



CHAPTER XLII. 

While these important movements were in the. course of 
execution near the western end of the lake, others of equal 
magnitude were attempted near its eastern. The descent on 
Fort George took place on the 27th of May, and almost at the 
same moment, Sir George Prevost, the British Commander-in- 
chief and Commodore Sir J. L. Yeo, meditated a coup de main 
against Sackett's Harbour, in revenge for the blow they had 
received at York. By destroying the new ship, Commodore 
Yeo would most probably secure a superiority on the lake for 
the remainder of the season, the Americans having no cruis- 
ing vessel but the Madison, fit to lie against the Wolfe or 
Royal George. 

On the morning of the 28th of May, the Wolfe, Royal 
George, Moira, Prince Regent, Simcoe, and Seneca, with two 
gun-boats, and a strong brigade of barges and flat-bottomed 
boats, appeared off" Sackett's Harbour. When about two 
leagues from the shore, a considerable party of troops was 
placed in the boats, and the whole squadron bore up, with a 
view to land ; but their attention was diverted by the appear- 
ance to the westward of a brigade containing nineteen boats, 
which were transporting troops to the Harbour. The enemy 
immediately sent his own barges in pursuit, and succeeded in 
driving twelve boats on shore, and in capturing them, though 
not until they had been abandoned by the Americans. The 
remaining seven got into the Harbour. Hoping to intercept 
another party, the enemy now hauled to the westward, and 
sent his boats ahead to lie in wait, and the intention to disem- 
bark that afternoon was abandoned. 

As the day dawned, on the morning of the 29th, a strong 
division of barges, filled with troops, and covered by the two 
gun-boats, was seen advancing upon Horse Island, a peninsula 
at a short distance from the village of Sackett's Harbour. A 
body of about 800 men effected a landing, accompanied by 
Sir George Prevost in person, and an irregular and desultory, 
but spirited engagement took place. At first, the enemy drove 
all before him, and he advanced quite near the town, but being 
31 * 



366 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

met by a detachment of regulars, he was driven back with 
loss, and compelled to abandon his enterprise. 

In this affairj had the enemy's vessels done as good service 
as the American vessels performed near the Niagara, the result 
might have been different ; but, though some of them swept up 
pretty near the shore, they were of no assistance to the troops. 
Unfortunately false information was given to the sea-officer in 
charge of the store-houses, and he set fire to them, by which 
mistake, not only most of the stores taken at York, but many 
that had come from the sea-board, were consumed. But for 
this accident, the enemy would have had no consolation for 
his defeat. 

Information reached Commodore Chauncey on the 30th of 
May, that the enemy was out, and he immediately got under 
way from the Niagara, looked into York, then ran off King- 
ston, but falling in with nothing, he crossed to the Harbour, 
where he anchored ; being satisfied that the English squadron 
had returned to port. 

Every exertion was now made to get the new ship afloat, 
Commodore Chauncey rightly thinking he should not be justi- 
fied in venturing an action with his present force. Although 
he had fourteen sail of vessels, which mounted altogether 82 
guns, only two had quarters, or were at all suited to close ac- 
tion. As both the Madison and Oneida had been constructed 
for a very light draught of water, neither was weatherly, 
though the former acquitted herself respectably ; but the latter 
was dull on all tacks, and what might not have been expected 
from her construction, particularly so before the wind. The 
schooners were borne down with metal, and could be of no 
great service except at long shot. On the other hand, all the 
enemy's vessels had quai'ters, most of them drew more water, 
relatively, and held a better wind than the Americans, and as 
a whole they were believed to mount about the same number 
of guns. In the way of metal the English large ships were 
decidedly superior to the two largest American vessels, mount- 
ing several sixty-eight-pound carronades among their other 
guns. 

The keel of the new ship had been laid on the 9th of April, 
and she was got into the water June 12th. This ship was a 
large corvette, and was pierced for 26 guns, long twenty-fours, 
and she mounted two more on circles ; one on a topgallant 
forecastle, and the other on the poop. The day before the 
launch, Captain Sinclair arrived and was appointed to this ves- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 367 

sel, which was called the General Pike. Lieutenant Tren- 
chard, who arrived at the same time, received the command 
of the Madison. 

Although the Pike was so near completion, there were nei- 
ther officers nor men for her, on the station ; and the canvass 
intended for her sails had been principally burned during the 
late attack on the Harbour. At this time, moreover, while the 
service pressed, only 120 men had been sent on lake Erie, 
Commodore Chauncey having entertained hopes of being able 
to reinforce that station from below, after defeating the enemy. 

Lake Champlain had attracted but little of the attention of 
either of the belligerents until this summer, as it did not come 
in the line of the military operations of the day. Some small 
vessels, however, had been fitted out, on each side of the fron- 
tier ; and on the 3d of June, Lieutenant Sidney Smith, who 
then commanded on the lake, ventured down into the narrow 
part of that water, with two armed sloops called the Eagle and 
the Growler, where he was completely exposed to the fire of 
musketry from a body of troops on the land. It appears that 
the Eagle sunk, her seams having opened by the discharges 
of her guns, and the Growler was compelled to strike, the 
wind being fresh at south, rendering a retreat impossible. On 
this occasion, near a hundred prisoners were made by the 
enemy, a considerable portion of whom were volunteers from 
the army. 

After this loss, the government turned its attention towards 
the construction of a naval force on that lake, but its move- 
ments were slow, the state of the warfare not appearing to 
require much exertion in that quarter. After the capture of 
Mr. Smith, however, Lieutenant Thomas M'Donough, an offi- 
cer who had distinguished himself as the associate of Decatur, 
in his chivalrous exploits before Tripoli, was detached for this 
service, and appointed to the command of the lake. Shortly 
after, Mr. M'Donough was raised to the rank of a master and 
commander ; but so few men were attached to this station, that 
when this gallant officer first reached it, and even for some 
time afterwards, he actually worked with his own hands, strap- 
ping blocks, and performing other similar duties, in order to 
prepare some small vessels for service. An inroad made by 
the enemy, about this time, a little quickened the efforts of the 
government, however; for on the 1st of August, Captain Ever- 
ard, of the British navy, at the head of a force consisting of 
the two captured sloops, three gun-boats, and several batteaux, 



3G8 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

made an incursion as far as Plattsburgh, where he destroyed 
a considerable amount of stores. He also captured several 
small trading vessels before he returned. As Captain M'Do- 
nough had no force equal to resisting such inroads, exertions 
were made to equip one that should prevent their repetition ; 
for, in consequence of the territorial division of this lake, its 
warfare, on the part of the Americans, was principally de- 
fensive. 

In the mean time, the efforts on Ontario continued. Early 
in June, the British squadron went up the lake, most probably 
to carry troops, quitting port in the night ; but Commodore 
Chauncey very properly decided that the important interests 
confided to his discretion required that he should not follow it, 
until his squadron was reinforced by the accession of the 
Pike, to get which vessel ready, every possible exertion was 
making. 

On the 14th of June, the Lady of the Lake, Lieutenant W. 
Chauncey, left the harbour to cruise off Presque Isle, to inter- 
cept the stores of the enemy; and on the 16th, she captured 
the schooner Lady Murray, loaded with provisions, shot, and 
fixed ammunition. This vessel was in charge of an ensign 
and 15 men, the prisoners amounting, in all, to twenty-one. 
Mr. Chauncey carried his prize into the harbour on the 18th, 
passing quite near the enemy's squadron. The prisoners 
reported the launch of a new brig at Kingston. 

About this time, the enemy's squadron, consisting of the 
Wolfe, Royal George, Moira, Melville, Berresford, Sidney 
Smith, and one or two gun-boats, appeared off Oswego. Pre- 
parations were made to disembark a party of troops, but the 
weather becoming threatening, Sir James Yeo was induced to 
defer the descent, and stood to the westward. He then went 
off the Genesee, where some provisions were seized and car- 
ried away, and a descent was made at Great Sodus, with a 
similar object, but which failed, though several buildings were 
burned, and some flour was captured. Shortly before, he had 
appeared off the coast, to the westward of Niagara, seizing 
some boats belonging to the army, loaded with stores. Two 
vessels, similarly employed, were also captured. 

On the 23d of June, 14 of the guns, and a quantity of the 
rigging for the Pike, reached the harbour ; and the next day, 
Commodore Chauncey advised the government to commence 
building a fast-sailing schooner. This recommendation was 
followed, and the keel of a vessel that was subsequently called 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 369 

the Sylph, was soon after laid, her size being determined by 
the nature of* the materials necessary for her equipment, which 
were principally on the spot. 

It was the last of June before the people began to arrive for 
the Pike ; the first draft, consisting of only 35 men, reaching 
the harbour on the 29th of that month. These were followed, 
on the 1st of July, by 94 more, from Boston. It was thought, 
by the assistance of the army, that the ship might be got out, 
with the aid of these men. In estimating the embarrassments 
of the lake service, in general, the reluctance of the sailors 
to serve on those inland waters should not be overlooked. 
The stations were known to be sickly, the service was exceed- 
ingly arduous, several winter months were to be passed, under 
a rigorous climate, in harbours that had none of the ordinary 
attractions of a seaport, and the chances for prize-money were 
too insignificant to enter into the account. At this period in 
the history of the navy, the men were entered for particular 
ships, and not for the general service, as at present ; and it 
would have been nearly impossible to procure able seamen for 
this unpopular duty, had not the means been found to induce 
parts of crews to follow their officers from the Atlantic coast, 
as volunteers. A considerable party had been sent from the 
Constitution, to Lake Ontario, after her return from the coast 
of Brazil ; and the arrival of a portion of the crew of the John 
Adams, on Lake Erie, has already been mentioned. On the 
8th of July, Captain Crane arrived from the same ship ; and 
two days later, he was followed by all the officers and men of 
that vessel, for which a new crew had been enlisted. This 
timely reinforcement was assigned, in a body, to the Madison, 
that ship being nearly of the size and force of the vessel from 
which they came. 

On the afternoon of the 1st of July, however, or previously 
to this important accession to his force, a deserter came in and 
reported that Sir James Yeo had left Kingston the previous 
night, in 20 large boats, with a body of 800 or 1000 men, with 
which he had crossed and landed in Chaumont Bay, about 
seven miles from the Harbour. Here he had encamped in the 
woods, concealing his boats with the branches of trees, with an 
intention to make an attack on the American squadron, in the 
course of the approaching night. Preparations were accord- 
ingly made to receive the expected assault, but the enemy did 
not appear. On the following morning, Commodore Chauncey 
went out with the vessels that were ready, and examined the 



370 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

shore, but the enemy could not be found. At sunset he re- 
turned, and moored the vessels in readiness for the attack. 
Still no enemy appeared. That night and the succeeding day, 
five more deserters came in, all corroborating each other's ac- 
count, by which it would seem that the expedition was aban- 
doned on the night of the 1st, in consequence of the desertion 
of the man who had first come in. At this time, the Pike had 
16 of her guns mounted ; and there is little doubt that Com- 
modore Yeo would have been defeated, had he persisted in his 
original intention. By July 3d, the remainder of her arma- 
ment had reached the Harbour. 

On the 21st of July, the Madison, Captain Crane, went off 
Kingston, communicating with the commodore by signal, who 
remained at anchor in the Pike, which ship was getting ready 
as fast as possible. The same evening the latter went out, ac- 
companied by the squadron, running over to the north shore, 
and then steered to the westward. The winds were light, and 
the vessels did not arrive off the mouth of the Niagara, until 
the 27th. Here a small body of troops was embarked under 
Colonel Scott, and the squadron proceeded to the head of the 
lake, with a view to make a descent at Burlington Bay. After 
landing the troops and marines, and reconnoitring, Colonel 
Scott believed the enemy to be too strong, and too well posted, 
for the force under his command ; and on the 30th, the ves- 
sels weighed and ran down to York. Here Colonel Scott 
landed without opposition, and got possession of the place. 
A considerable quantity of provisions, particularly flour, was 
seized, five pieces of cannon were found, some shot and pow- 
der were brought off, and 11 boats, built to transport troops, 
were destroyed. Some barracks, and other public build- 
ings, were burned. The troops re-embarked on the 1st of 
August, and on the 3d they were disembarked again, in the 
Niagara. 

At daylight, on the morning of the 7th, while at anchor off 
the mouth of the Niagara, the enemy's squadron, consisting 
of two ships, two brigs, and two large schooners, were seen to 
the northwest, and to windward, distant about six miles. The 
American vessels immediately weighed, and endeavoured to 
obtain the weather-gage, the construction of a large portion of 
the force rendering this advantage important in a general action. 
At this time, Commodore Chauncey had present, the Pike, 
Madison, Oneida, Hamilton, Scourge, Ontario, Fair American, 
Governor Tompkins, Conquest, Julia, Growler, Asp, and Pert, 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY, 371 

or thirteen sail. The size of the lake, which at first view might 
seem to render it difficult to avoid a combat, was in truth in 
favour of such a design ; the distances being so small, that the 
retiring party, under ordinary circumstances, would have it in 
his power to gain a harbour, before its enemy could close. 
Both commanders, it is now understood, acted under very rigid 
instructions, it being known that the fortune of the northern 
war, in a great measure, depended on the command of this 
lake, and neither party was disposed to incur any undue risks 
of losing the chance to obtain it. 

On the present occasion, however, Commodore Chaunccy 
was anxious to bring the enemy to battle, feeling a sufficient 
confidence in his officers and men to believe they would render 
his mixed and greatly divided force sufficiently available. The 
principal advantage of the enemy was in the identity of charac- 
ter that belonged to his squadron, which enabled him to keep 
it in compact order, and to give it concentrated and simultane- 
ous evolutions, while the movements of the best of the Ameri- 
can vessels, were necessarily controlled by those of their 
worst. In short, the manoeuvring of the American squadron, 
throughout this entire summer, furnishes an illustration of that 
nautical principle to which there has elsewhere been an allu- 
sion, in an attempt to point out the vast importance of pre- 
serving an equality in the properties of ships. Indeed the Pike 
and Madison, alone could compete with vessels of ordinary 
qualities, the Oneida proving to be so dull, that the Pike was 
frequently compelled to take her in tow. 

At 9 A. M. the Pike, having got abreast of the Wolfe, the 
leading vessel of the enemy, hoisted her ensign, and fired a few 
guns to try the range of her shot. Finding that the latter fell 
short, she wore and hauled to the wind on the other tack, the 
sternmost of the small schooners being then six miles distant. 
The enemy wore in succession, also, and got upon the same 
tack as the American squadron, but ascertaining that the lead- 
ing vessels of the latter would weather upon him, he soon 
tacked, and hauled off to the northward. As soon as the rear 
of the American line was far enough ahead to fetch his wake, 
signal was made to the squadron to tack once more, and to 
crowd sail in chase. The wind now gradually fell, and about 
sunset it was calm, the schooners using their sweeps to close. 
As night approached, the signal of recall was made, in order 
to collect the squadron, there being an apprehension that some 
of the small vessels might be cut off. 



372 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

In the night the wind came from the westward, and it blew 
in squalls. All the vessels were at quarters, carrying sail to 
gain the wind of the enemy, with a view to engage him in the 
morning. Not long after midnight, a rushing sound was 
heard ; and several of the vessels felt more or less of a squall ; 
but the strength of the gust passed astern. Soon after, it was 
ascertained that the Hamilton, Lieutenant Winter, and Scourge, 
Mr. Osgood, had disappeared. The Pike now spoke the Go- 
vernor Tompkins, which informed the commodore that the mis- 
sing schooners had capsized in the squall, and that the whole 
of their officers and men, with the exception of sixteen of the 
latter, had been drowned. It is supposed, as all the crews 
were at quarters, and the guns were loose, that when the gust 
struck the vessels, their heavy pieces, which worked on slides, 
with all the shot on deck, went to leeward, and helped to carry 
the two schooners over. This accident showed how unsuited 
these vessels were to the service on which they were employed, 
those lost having been two of the very best in the squadron, 
mounting between them 19 guns. 

The American squadron now hove-to, and soon after day- 
light the enemy set studding-sails and stood down upon it, ap- 
parently with an intention to engage. When a little more 
than a league distant, however, he brought by the wind, and 
the signal was made from the Pike to ware and to bring-to on 
the same tack. After waiting some time for the English ships 
to come down, Commodore Chauncey edged away for the land, 
hoping, by getting the breeze which, at that season, usually 
came off the southern shore, in the afternoon, to obtain the 
weather-gage. It fell calm, however, and the schooners were 
ordered to sweep up towards the enemy, and to bring him to 
action. While the latter were attempting to execute this order, 
the wind came out light at the eastward, when the Pike took 
the Oneida in tow, and stood down towards the enemy. The 
van of the schooners had got within two miles of the English 
squadron, when the breeze suddenly shifted to the westward, 
giving the latter the advantage of the wind. Sir James Yeo 
now bore up, in the expectation of cutting off the American 
small vessels, before the ships could cover them ; but the 
former, by freely using their sweeps, soon got into their sta- 
tions again, when the enemy hauled by the wind and hove-to. 

It now became squally, and the people having been at quar- 
ters nearly two days and nights, and the enemy, who was 
evidently indisposed to engage, unless on his own terms, pos- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 373 

sessing a great advantage in such weather, as the late accident 
sufficiently proved, Commodore Chauncey ran in, and anchored 
at the mouth of the Niagara. It blew heavy in squalls 
throughout the night, but the enemy being in sight to the north- 
ward, at daylight, the squadron weighed and stood out after 
him. Throughout the whole of this day, and of the succeeding 
night, under a succession of squalls, light airs, and calms, and 
constant changes in the direction of the winds, the American 
vessels were endeavouring to close with the enemy, without 
success. At daylight, however, on the morning of the 10th, 
Commodore Chauncey, having taken the precaution to get 
under the north shore, found himself to windward, with the 
enemy bearing S. W. The Pike now took the Asp, and the 
Madison the Fair American in tow, and the whole squadron 
kept away, with every prospect of forcing the English to en- 
gage. About noon, and before the squadrons were within 
gun-shot of each other, the wind shifted to W. S. W., giving 
the enemy the weather-gage. Throughout the day, there was 
a series of unsuccessful manoeuvres to close and to gain the 
wind, but, about 5 P. M., the enemy was becalmed under the 
south shore, and the American squadron got a breeze from 
N. N. W., nearing him fast. At 6, being then distant about 
four miles, the line of battle was formed, though the wind had 
become very light. The vessels continued to close until 7, 
when a fresh breeze came out at S. W., placing the enemy 
once more to windward. After some manoeuvring, the two 
squadrons were standing to the northward, with their larboard 
tacks aboard, under easy canvass, the enemy astern and to 
windward. It being now pretty certain that with vessels of 
qualities so unequal, he could not get the wind of the English, 
while the latter were disposed to avoid it, Commodore Chaun- 
cey adopted an order of battle that was singularly well adapted 
to draw them down, and which was admirable for its advan- 
tages and ingenuity. The American squadron formed in two 
lines, one to windward of the other. The weather line con- 
sisted altogether of the smallest of the schooners, having in it, 
in the order in which they are named, from the van to the 
rear, the Julia, Growler, Pert, Asp, Ontario, and Fair Ameri- 
can. The line to leeward contained, in the same order, the 
Pike, Oneida, Madison, Governor Tompkins, and Conquest. 
It was hoped that Sir James Yeo would close with the weather 
line in the course of the night, and, with a view to bring him 
down, the Julia, Growler, Pert, and Asp were directed, after 
32 



374 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

engaging as long as was prudent, to edge away, and to pass 
through the intervals left between the leading vessels of the 
line to leeward, forming again under their protection, while 
the Ontario and Fair American were directed to run into the 
leeward line, and form astern of the Conquest. 

At half-past 10 P. M. the enemy tacked and stood after the 
American squadron, keeping to windward of the weather line. 
At 11, the Fair American, the sternmost of the schooners in 
this line, began to fire ; and the enemy continuing to draw 
ahead, in about fifteen minutes the action became general be- 
tween him and the weather line. At half-past 11 all the 
schooners engaged bore up, according to orders, with the ex- 
ception of the two in the van, which tacked in the hope of 
gaining the wind of the English ships, instead of waring, or 
bearing up. This unfortunate departure from the order of 
battle, entirely changed the state of things ; Sir James Yeo, 
instead of following the schooners down, as had been expected, 
keeping his wind with a view to cut off the two that had sepa- 
rated. Commodore Chauncey now filled, and kept away two 
points, in the hope of drawing the enemy from the vessels to 
windward, but the English exchanged a few shots with the Pike 
in passing, and continued in pursuit of the two schooners. The 
American squadron immediately tacked, and endeavoured to 
close, with the double view of covering their consorts, and of 
engaging. As the chase was to windward, it was impossible to 
protect the vessels that had separated, the English ships easily 
getting them under their guns, when the former struck, of course. 

The vessels captured were the Growler, Lieutenant Deacon ; 
and the Julia, Mr. Trant. They sustained a small loss before 
they surrendered, having, in some measure, repaired the fault 
they had committed, by the handsome manner in which they 
held on to the last. It was the opinion of Commodore Chaun- 
cey, that these schooners were lost through excess of zeal in 
their commanders, who thought that a general action was 
about to take place, and that by gaining the wind, they might 
be of more service, than if stationed to leeward. The result 
showed the necessity of complete concert in naval evolutions, 
and the virtue of implicit obedience. 

Each of the vessels taken by the enemy, carried two guns, 
and had a crew of about 40 souls. Some damage was done 
to the sails and rigging of the enemy, by the fire of the 
schooners ; but the American squadron, the Julia and Growler 
excepted, received no injury worth mentioning. The Growler 



1S13.] NAVAL HISTORY. 375 

had a man killed, lost her bowsprit, and was a good deal 
damaged before she struck. 

The Pike, after carrying sail hard for some time, finding 
that she was separating from the rest of the squadron, and that 
there was no hope of saving the two schooners, rejoined the 
other vessels, and formed the line again. At daylight, the 
enemy was seen a long way to windward, it blowing fresh. 
The small vessels beginning to labour excessively, it became 
necessary to send two of the dullest of them into the Niagara 
for security. 

The gale continuing, the commodore now determined to run 
for the Genesee, with the rest of the vessels ; but the wind in- 
creasing, and the Madison and Oneida not having a day's pro- 
visions on board, he stood for the Harbour, where he did not 
arrive until the 13th, the wind failing before he got in. 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

Without waiting for his new vessel, Commodore Chaun- 
cey took in provisions for five weeks, and sailed on another 
cruise the very day of his arrival. On the 16th, the squadron 
was off the Niagara, and the same day the enemy was made, 
being eight sail in all. Some manoeuvring to obtain the wind 
followed, but it coming on to blow, the vessels ran into the mouth 
of the Genesee, and anchored. This was another of the evil con- 
sequences of having vessels like the small schooners in the 
squadron, a sea little heavier than common causing them to 
labour to a degree that rendered it unsafe to keep the lake. The 
wind, however, freshened so much as to compel the whole 
squadron to weigh and bear up, forcing them down the lake 
under easy canvass. The enemy, it would seem, was also 
driven to leeward, for he was seen at anchor under the False 
Ducks, as those islands came in sight. The Fair American 
and Asp having been sent into the Niagara on duty, the ves- 
sels present in the American squadron, on this occasion, were 
the Pike, Madison, Oneida, Tompkins, Conquest, Ontario, Pert, 
and Lady of the Lake ; the latter having no armament fit for 
a general engagement. It was now expected that the enemy 



376 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

would be willing to engage, and the vessels were cleared for 
action. The wind again shifted, however, bringing the Eng- 
lish squadron to windward ; but by carrying sail hard, the 
American vessels were weathering on the enemy when the 
latter ran behind the islands, and was believed to have stood 
into Kingston. The gale increasing, and the schooners being 
actually in danger of foundering, Commodore Chauncey bore 
up for the Harbour, where he arrived on the 19th of the 
month. 

The new vessel had been launched on the 18th, and she 
was immediately rigged and named the Sylph. Her arma- 
ment was peculiar, for, in that comparative wilderness, the 
materials that could be had were frequently taken, in the place 
of those that were desired. Four long thirty-twos were mount- 
ed on circles between her masts, and six sixes were placed in 
broadside. As this vessel was expected to be weatherly, it 
was hoped these heavy guns might cut away some of the ene- 
my's spars, and bring on a general action. It is due to the 
extraordinary capacity of the builder, to say that this schooner 
was put into the water in twenty-one working days after her 
keel had been laid. 

A promotion had been made previously, and the new com- 
missions were now found at the Harbour. Lieutenant Com- 
mandant Woolsey was transferred to the Sylph, with his new 
rank ; Lieutenant Thomas Brown, the officer who had so much 
distinguished himself at the landing before Fort George, suc- 
ceeding him in the Oneida. 

On the 28th of August, Commodore Chauncey sailed again, 
with the Pike, Madison, Sylph, Oneida, Tompkins, Conquest, 
Ontario, Pert, and Lady of the Lake. The enemy was not 
seen until the 7th of September, when the squadron lying at 
anchor in, and off, the Niagara, his ships were made out at 
daylight, close in and to leeward. The signal to weigh was 
instantly shown, and the Pike, Madison, and Sylph, each tak- 
ing a schooner in tow, sail was made in chase. The enemy 
bore up to the northward, and for six days the American 
squadron followed the English, endeavouring to bring it to 
action, without success. On the 11th of September, the ene- 
my was becalmed off the Genesee, when the American vessels 
got a breeze and ran within gun-shot, before the English 
squadron took the wind. A running fight, that lasted more 
than three hours, was the result ; but the enemy escaped in 
consequence of his better sailing, it being out of the power of 



1613.] NAVAL HISTORY. 377 

the American commander to close with more than two of his 
vessels, the Sylph being totally unfitted for that species of com- 
bat. As the Pike succeeded in getting several broadsides at 
the enemy, he did not escape without being a good deal cut 
up, having, according to his own report, an officer and ten 
men killed and wounded. The Pike was hulled a few times, 
and other trifling injuries were received, though no person was 
hurt. Previously to this affair, Commodore Chauncey had 
been joined by the Fair American and Asp. On the 12th, Sir 
James Yeo ran into Amherst Bay, where the Americans were 
unable to follow him, on account of their ignorance of the 
shoals. It was supposed that the English Commodore declined 
engaging on this occasion, in consequence of the smoothness 
of the water, it being his policy to bring his enemy to action 
in blowing weather, when the American schooners would be 
nearly useless. 

Commodore Chauncey remained off the Ducks until the 
17th, when the English squadron succeeded in getting into 
Kingston, after which he went into port for despatches and 
supplies. The next day, however, he came out again, and on 
the 19th, the enemy was seen in the vicinity of the Ducks. 
No notice was now taken of him, but the squadron stood up 
the lake, in the hope that the English would follow, and also 
with a view of bringing down a brigade of troops, a division 
of the army being about to concentrate at Sackett's Harbour, 
preparatory to descending the St. Lawrence with a view to 
attack Kingston or Montreal. 

In a day or two, the squadron got off the Niagara, and an- 
chored. On the 26th of September, information was received 
that Sir James Yeo was at York, with all his squadron. The 
Lady of the Lake was sent across to ascertain the fact, on the 
morning of the 27th, and returning the same evening with a 
confirmation of the report, the squadron instantly got under 
way. Owing to the wind, the darkness of the night, and the 
bad sailing of so many of the vessels, the squadron was not got 
into line, until 8 A. M., on the morning of the 28th, when the 
Pike, Madison, and Sylph, each took a schooner in tow, as 
usual, and sail was made for the north shore. 

The English squadron was soon discovered under canvass, 
in York Bay, and the American vessels immediately edged 
away for it. Fortunately, the Americans had the weather- 
gage, the wind being at the eastward, blowing a good breeze. 
As soon as the enemv perceived the American ships approach- 
32* 



378 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

ing, he tacked and stretched out into the lake, in order to get 
room to manoeuvre ; Commodore Chauncey forming his line, 
and steering directly for his centre. When the American 
squadron was about a league distant, the English ships made 
all sail, on a wind, to the southward. The former now wore 
in succession, to get on the same tack with the enemy ; and as 
soon as this object was effected, it began to edge away again 
in order to close. 

The enemy had now no alternative between putting up his 
helm, and running off before the wind, thus satisfactorily de- 
monstrating which party sought, and which avoided a general 
action, or in allowing tbe Americans to commence the engage- 
ment. Notwithstanding the wariness with which Sir James 
Yeo had hitherto manoeuvred to prevent a decisive combat, he 
had always maintained the pretension of seeking a conflict, 
probably with a view to encourage the colonies ; and a retreat, 
at this moment, would have been too unequivocally a flight to 
admit of palliation. The American squadron was a good deal 
extended, in consequence of the great difference in the sailing 
of its vessels, the Pike being considerably ahead of most of her 
consorts. As the signal was flying for close action, the Go- 
vernor Tompkins had passed several of the larger vessels, and 
was next astern of the commodore, while the Madison, which 
had one of the heaviest of the schooners in tow, was prevented 
from getting as near as was desirable. The Oneida, too, now 
showed her worst qualities, no exertions of her gallant com- 
mander, Lieutenant Commandant Brown, being able to urge 
her into the conflict. In this state of things, Sir James Yeo, 
perceiving that his two sternmost vessels were in danger, and 
that there was some little chance of cutting off the rear of the 
American line, determined to tack, and to hazard an engage- 
ment. 

At ten minutes past meridian, accordingly, the English ships 
began to tack in succession, while the Pike made a yaw to lee- 
ward, edging away rapidly, to get nearer to the enemy's centre. 
As soon as the two or three leading vessels of the enemy, 
among which were the Wolfe and Royal George, got round, 
they opened on the Pike, which ship received their fire for se- 
veral minutes without returning it. When near enough, she 
opened in her turn. The Pike, on this occasion, was not only 
beautifully handled, but her fire was probably as severe as ever 
came out of the broadside of a ship of her force. For twenty 
minutes she lay opposed to all the heaviest vessels of the ene- 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 379 

my, receiving little or no support from any of her own squad- 
ron, with the exception of the Asp, the schooner she had in 
tow, and the Governor Tompkins. The latter vessel, com- 
manded for the occasion by Lieutenant W. C. B. Finch,* of 
the Madison, was handled with a gallantry that reflected high 
credit on that young officer, steadily keeping the station into 
which she had been so spiritedly carried, and maintaining a 
warm fire until crippled by the enemy, and unavoidably left 
astern. When the smoke blew away, during a pause in this 
sharp combat, it was found that the Wolfe had lost her main 
and mizzen topmasts and her main-yard, besides receiving 
other injuries. Cut up so seriously, she put away dead before 
the wind, crowding all the canvass she could carry on her for- 
ward spars. At this moment, the Royal George luffed up in 
noble style, across her stern, to cover the English commodore, 
who ran off to leeward, passing through his own line, in order 
to effect his retreat. 

When the English squadron bore up, the American vessels 
followed, maintaining a heavy fire with as many of their circle 
and chase guns as could reach the enemy. It was now found 
that the armament of the Sylph was not suited to service, the 
guns between her masts being so 'crowded as not to allow of 
their being used with freedom, or rapidity, more especially 
when in chase. This circumstance, notwithstanding her size 
and sailing, rendered her of little more use than one of the 
smaller schooners. 

After pursuing the enemy about two hours, during which 
time the squadron had run nearly up to the head of the lake, 
where the former had a post at Burlington Bay, and finding 
that the English ships outsailed most of his vessels, Commo- 
dore Chauncey made the signal to haul off with a view to stand 
in for the Niagara. As the enemy was effectually beaten, and 
there is scarcely a doubt, would have been destroyed, had he 
been pressed, this order has been much criticised, as uncalled 
for, and unfortunate. The motives which influenced the Ame- 
rican commander, however, were marked by that discretion 
and thoughtfulness, which are among the highest attributes of 
an officer, and which distinguished his whole career, while en- 
trusted with the arduous and responsible service over which 
he presided during the war. 

The wind was increasing, and it shortly after came on to 



* Now Captain W. C. Bolton. 



380 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

blow an easterly gale, and an action, under such circumstances, 
would probably have caused both squadrons to be thrown 
ashore, there being nothing but a roadstead, under Bur- 
lington heights, which the wind that then blew swept. As the 
enemy was known to have a considerable land force at this 
point, all who were driven ashore, would necessarily have fallen 
into his hands ; and had he succeeded in getting off one or two 
of the smaller vessels, he would effectually have obtained the 
command of the lake. By going into the Niagara, on the 
other hand, the American squadron was in a position to inter- 
cept the retreat of the enemy, who was in a cul de sac ; and 
after waiting for more moderate weather, he might be attacked 
even at anchor, should it be deemed expedient, under much 
more favourable circumstances. In addition to these reasons, 
which were weighty, and worthy of a commander of reflection 
and judgment, the Pike had received a shot or two beneath her 
water line, which required that her pumps should be kept going, 
a toil, that united to the labour of an action, would have finally 
exhausted the strength of the ship's company. The enemy 
had batteries to command the anchorage, too ; and no doubt he 
would have established more, had the Americans gone in. 

In the action of the 28th of September, the Pike suffered a 
good deal, both in her hull and aloft, bearing the weight of the 
enemy's fire for most of the time. Her main-top-gallant-mast 
was shot away early in the engagement, and her bowsprit, 
foremast, and mainmast were all wounded. Her rigging and 
sails were much cut up, and she had been repeatedly hulled ; 
two or three times below the water line, as already stated. 
Five of her men, only, were killed and wounded by shot. 
While bearing up in chase, however, the starboard bow gun 
bursted, by which accident twenty-two men were either slain, 
or seriously injured. The topgallant forecastle was torn up by 
this explosion, rendering its circle gun useless during the re- 
mainder of the day. Four of the other guns also cracked in 
the muzzles, producing great distrust about using them. The 
Madison received some slight injuries, and the Oneida had her 
main-topmast badly wounded. But no person was hurt in 
either of these vessels. The Governor Tompkins lost her fore- 
mast. On the part of the enemy, the Wolfe and Royal George 
suffered most ; and it is believed that the former vessel sus- 
tained a very heavy loss in men. It is also understood, that 
one, if not twoj of the enemy's smallest vessels struck ; but the 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 381 

Pike declining to take possession, in the eagerness to close 
with the Wolfe, they eventually escaped. 

On the 2d, the wind coming round light to the westward, and 
the last transport having been sent down the lake with troops, 
the squadron weighed, and stretched out to look for the ene- 
my. At 10 A. M. he was seen standing down, under stud- 
ding sails. The instant the American vessels were made, 
however, the enemy came by the wind and carried sail to keep 
off. During the remainder of this day, the English ships 
gained on the American, and at daylight on the 3d they were 
seen at anchor, close in under an island between Twelve and 
Twenty Mile Creeks. It blew quite heavily in gusts through- 
out the day, both squadrons turning to windward, the enemy 
being nearly up with the head of the lake at sunset. The 
night proved dark and squally, with a good deal of rain, and 
every precaution was taken to prevent the enemy from getting 
past, as he was now caught, as it might be, in a net. 

The next morning the weather was thick, and nothing could 
be seen of the English squadron. It falling calm at noon, the 
Lady of the Lake was ordered to the westward, to sweep up 
to ascertain the position of the enemy, or whether he had not 
anchored again in Burlington Bay. At 9 P. M. that schooner 
returned, and reported that the English squadron was not to 
be seen, only two gun-boats being visible. As a discreet and 
experienced officer had been sent on this service, Commodore 
Chauncey immediately inferred that the enemy had got past 
him, during the darkness of the preceding night, and that he 
had gone down the lake, either to cut off the American tran- 
sports, or to get into Kingston. Sail was immediately made 
to run off the Ducks, with a view to intercept Sir James Yeo, 
or any prizes he might have taken. It is now known that the 
officers of the Lady of the Lake were deceived, the British 
fleet actually lying at anchor so close under the heights that 
their hulls and spars were confounded with objects on the 
shore ; the gentleman sent to ascertain the fact being too eager 
to report the supposed escape of the enemy, to go near enough 
in to make certain of the truth. 

That night and the succeeding day the American squadron 
made a great run, the wind blowing heavily from the N. W. 
At 3 P. M., on the 5th, seven sail were seen ahead, near the 
False Ducks, and no doubts were entertained that they were 
the British squadron. All sail was carried to close, but at 4 
the chases were made out to be schooners and sloops. Signals 



382 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

were now shown for the Sylph and Lady of the Lake to cast 
off their tows, and to chase to the N. E. This induced the 
strangers to separate, when the Pike cast off the Governor 
Tompkins, and past ahead also. The strangers now set fire 
to one of their vessels, the other six crowding sail to escape. 
At sunset, when opposite the Real Ducks, the British vessels 
the Confiance, Hamilton, and Mary, struck to the Pike. The 
Sylph soon after joined, bringing down with her another prize, 
the Drummond cutter, and early next morning the same schoon- 
er brought out of the Ducks the Lady Gore. The Enterprise, 
the seventh vessel, escaped. 

The prizes were gun-vessels, carrying from one to three 
guns each, and were employed as transports ; a part of one of 
the German rcmments in the British service being; on board at 
the time. The whole number of prisoners made amounted to 
264, including officers. Among the latter were a lieutenant 
and two master's mates of the British Royal Navy, and four 
masters of the provincial marine. Ten officers of the army 
were also taken. The Confiance and Hamilton, two of the 
prizes, were the schooners Growler and Julia, taken on the 
night of the 8th of August, which, the enemy had rightly 
judged, would prove an incumbrance rather than an accession 
to their squadron, and had declined receiving them in it. This 
circumstance, of itself, sufficiently proves the equivocal advan- 
tage enjoyed by the possession of these craft, which formed so 
conspicuous a part of Commodore Chauncey's force on paper, 
the enemy being unwilling to injure the manoeuvring of his 
vessels by using them. 

Early in November, Commodore Chauncey was lying at the 
outlet of the St. Lawrence, below the east end of Long Island, 
when Sir James Yeo came out with his ships, and anchored 
within two leagues of him, the squadrons being separated by 
a chain of small islands. There was but one passage by 
which this chain could be passed, and the Americans sent 
boats to sound it, intending to lighten and go through, when 
the enemy lifted his anchors and returned to port. On the 
11th, the army having gone down the river, the American 
squadron went into the Harbour. 

Two days later, Commodore Chauncey, who had now an al- 
most undisturbed possession of the lake, went to the Genesee, 
where, on the 16th of the month, he took on board 1100 men, 
belonging to the army of General Harrison. A severe gale 
came on, by which the vessels were separated, some being 



1812-13.] NAVAL HISTORY. 383 

driven as far west as the head of the lake. The transports, 
into which most of the small schooners were now converted, 
having been finally despatched, the commodore went off Kings- 
ton again, to occupy the enemy, and to cover the passage of 
the troops. All the transports had arrived on the 21st but the 
Julia, which did not get in until a few days later. The Fair 
American had gone ashore near the Niagara, during the gale, 
but was got off, and reached the Harbour on the 27th. By 
this time, the navigation of the lake was virtually closed, and 
it being too late to attempt any naval operations, while the duty 
of transporting the troops and stores had been successfully per- 
formed, preparations were made to lay the vessels up for the 
winter. ' 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

In the course of the winter of 1812-13, Captain O. H. Perry, 
then a young master and commander at the head of the flotilla 
of gun-boats, at Newport, Rhode Island, finding no immediate 
prospect of getting to sea in a sloop of war, volunteered for the 
lake service. Captain Perry brought on with him a number 
of officers, and a few men, and Commodore Chauncey gladly 
availed himself of the presence of an officer of his rank, known 
spirit, and zeal, to send him on the upper lakes, in command, 
where he arrived in the course of the winter. From this time, 
until the navigation opened, Captain Perry was actively em- 
ployed, under all the embarrassments of his frontier position, 
in organising and creating a force, with which he might con- 
tend with the enemy for the mastery of those important waters. 
Two large brigs, to mount 20 guns each, were laid down at 
Presque Isle, and a {ew gun-vessels, or schooners, were also 
commenced. The spring passed in procuring guns, shot, and 
other supplies ; and, as circumstances allowed, a draft of men 
would arrive from below, to aid in equipping the different ves- 
sels. As soon as the squadron of Commodore Chauncey ap- 
peared off' the mouth of Niagara, Captain Perry, with some of 
his officers, went to join it, and the former was efficiently em- 
ployed in superintending the disembarkation of the troops, as 



384 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

has been already related. The fall of Fort George produced 
that of Fort Erie, when the whole of the Niagara frontier came 
under the control of the American army. 

Captain Perry now repaired to his own command, and with 
infinite labour, he succeeded in getting the vessels that had so 
long been detained in the Niagara, by the enemy's batteries, 
out of the river. This important service was effected by the 
12th of June, and preparations were immediately commenced 
for appearing on the lake. These vessels consisted of the brig 
Caledonia, (a prize,) and the schooners Catherine, Ohio, and 
Amelia ; with the sloop Contractor. The Catherine was named 
the Somers, the Amelia the Tigress, and the Contractor the 
Trippe. At this time, the enemy had a cruising force under 
the orders of Captain Finnis, which consisted of the Queen 
Charlotte, a ship of between three and four hundred tons, and 
mounting 17 guns ; the Lady Prevost, a fine warlike schooner, 
of about two hundred tons, that mounted 13 guns; the brig 
Hunter, a vessel a little smaller, of 10 guns, and three or four 
lighter cruisers. He was also building, at Maiden, a ship of 
near five hundred tons measurement, that was to mount 19 
guns, and which was subsequently called the Detroit. 

It was near the middle of June before Captain Perry was ready 
to sail from the outlet of Lake Erie, for Presque Isle. There 
being no intention to engage the enemy, and little dread of 
meeting him in so short a run, as she came in sight of her 
port each vessel made the best of her way. The enemy had 
chosen this moment to look into Presque Isle, and both squad- 
rons were in view from the shore, at the same time, though, 
fortunately for the Americans, the English did not get a sight 
of them, until they were too near the land to be intercepted. 
As the last vessel got in, the enemy hove in sight, in the offing. 

The two brigs laid down in the winter, under the directions 
of Commodore Chauncey, had been launched towards the close 
o[ May, and were now in a state of forwardness. They were 
called the Lawrence and the Niagara. The schooners also 
were in the water, and Captain Perry, having all his vessels in 
one port, employed himself in getting them ready for service, 
as fast as possible. Still various stores were wanting. There 
was a great deficiency of men, particularly of seamen, and 
Captain Perry, and Mr. D. Turner, were, as yet, the only 
commissioned sea-officers on the lake. The latter, moreover, 
was quite young in years, as well as in rank. 

Presque Isle, or, as the place is now called, Erie, was a 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 385 

good and spacious harbour ; but it had a bar on which there 
was less than seven feet of water. This bar, which had hith- 
erto answered the purposes of a fortification, now offered a 
serious obstruction, to getting the brigs on the lake. It lay- 
about half a mile outside, and offered great advantages to the 
enemy for attacking the Americans while employed in pass- 
ing it. So sensible was Captain Perry of this disadvantage, 
that he adopted the utmost secresy in order to conceal his 
intentions, for it was known that the enemy had spies closely 
watching his movements. 

Captain Barclay had lately superseded Captain Finnis in the 
command of the English force, and for near a week he had been 
blockading the American vessels, evidently with an intention 
to prevent their getting out, it being known that this bar could 
be crossed only in smooth water. On Friday, the 2d of Au- 
gust, he suddenly disappeared in the northern board. 

The next day but one was Sunday, and the officers were 
ashore seeking the customary relaxation. Without any ap- 
pearances of unusual preparation, Captain Perry privately 
gave the order to repair on board the respective vessels and to 
drop down to the bar. This command was immediately 
obeyed ; and at about 2 P. M., the Lawrence had been towed 
to the point where the deepest water was to be found. Her 
guns were whipped out, loaded and shotted as they were, and 
landed on the beach ; two large scows, prepared for the pur- 
pose, were hauled alongside, and the work of lifting the brig 
proceeded as fast as possible. Pieces of massive timber had 
been run through the forward and after ports, and when the 
scows were sunk to the water's edge, the ends of the timbers 
were blocked up, supported by these floating foundations. The 
plugs were now put in the scows, and the water was pumped 
out of them. By this process, the brig was lifted quite two 
feet, though, when she was got on the bar, it was found that 
she still drew too much water. It became necessary, in con- 
sequence, to come-up every thing, to sink the scows anew, 
and to block up the timbers afresh. This duty occupied the 
night. 

The schooners had crossed the bar, and were moored out- 
side, and preparations were hurriedly made to receive an 
attack. About 8 A. M., the enemy re-appeared. At this time, 
the Lawrence was just passing the bar. A distant, short, and 
harmless cannonade ensued, though it had the effect to keep 
the enemy from running in. As soon as the Lawrence was 
33 



386 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

in deep water, her guns were hoisted in, manned as fast as 
mounted, and the brig's broadside was sprung to bear on the 
English squadron. Fortunately, the Niagara crossed on the 
first trial ; and before night, all the vessels were as ready for 
service, as circumstances would then allow. The enemy re- 
mained with his topsails to the mast half an hour, sullenly 
reconnoitring ; he then filled, and went up the lake under a 
press of canvass. 

This occurred on the 4th of August, and on the 5th, Captain 
Perry sailed in quest of the enemy, having received on board 
a number of soldiers and volunteers. He ran off Long Point, 
and sweeping the Canada shore for some distance, returned to 
Erie on the 8th. Taking in some supplies, he was about to 
proceed up the lake again, when intelligence arrived that a 
party sent from below, under Lieutenant Elliott, was at Cat- 
taraugus, on its way to join the squadron. A vessel was im- 
mediately sent for this acceptable reinforcement. Shortly after 
its arrival, the commissions that had been made out some time 
previously, were received from below. By these changes, Mr. 
Elliott became a master and commander, and Messrs. Holdup, 
Packett, Yarnall, Edwards, and Conklin, were raised to the 
rank of lieutenants. Most of these gentlemen, however, had 
been acting for some months. 

The American squadron now consisted of the Lawrence 20, 
Captain Perry ; Niagara 20, Captain Elliott ; Caledonia 3, Mr. 
M'Grath, a purser; Ariel 4, Lieutenant Packett; Trippc 1, 
Lieutenant Smith ; Tigress 1, Lieutenant Conklin ; Somcrs 2, 
Mr. Alney ; Scorpion 2, Mr. Champlin ; Ohio 1, Mr. Dobbins ; 
and Porcupine 1, Mr. Senatt. On the 18th of August, this force 
sailed from Erie, and off Sandusky, a few days later, it chased, 
and was near capturing one of the enemy's schooners. 

The squadron cruised for several days, near the entrance 
of the strait, when Captain Perry was taken ill with the fever 
peculiar to these waters, and shortly after the vessels went into 
Put-in Bay, a harbour, among some islands that lay at no 
great distance. 

Here a few changes occurred, Mr. Smith going to the 
Niagara, and Mr. Holdup to the Trippc ; Mr. M'Grath went 
also to the Niagara, and Mr. Turner took command of the 
Caledonia. The Ohio was sent down the lake on duty. 

While in port, on this occasion, Captain Perry contemplated 
an attack on the enemy's vessels, by means of boats ; and 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 387 

orders were issued, accordingly, to drill the people with muf- 
fled oars. 

The squadron was still lying at Put-in Bay on the morning 
of the 10th of September, when, at daylight, the enemy's ships 
were discovered at the N. W. from the mast-head of the Law- 
rence. A signal was immediately made for all the vessels to 
get under way. The wind was light at S. W., and there was 
no mode of obtaining the weather-gage of the enemy, a very 
important measure with the peculiar armament of the largest 
of the American vessels, but by beating round some small 
islands that lay in the way. It being thought there was not 
sufficient time for this, though the boats were got ahead to tow, 
a signal was about to be made for the vessels to ware, and to 
pass to leeward of the islands, with an intention of giving the 
enemy this great advantage, when the wind shifted to S. E. 
By this change the American squadron was enabled to pass in 
the desired direction, and to gain the wind. When he per- 
ceived the American vessels clearing the land, or about 10 
A. M., the enemy hove-to, in a line, with his ships' heads to 
the southward and westward. At this time the two squadrons 
were about three leagues asunder, the breeze being still at S. 
E., and sufficient to work with. After standing down, until 
about a league from the English, where a better view was got 
of the manner in which the enemy had formed his line, the 
leading vessels of his own squadron being within hail, Captain 
Perry communicated a new order of attack. It had been ex- 
pected that the Queen Charlotte, the second of the English 
vessels, in regard to force, would be at the head of their line, 
and the Niagara had been destined to lead in, and to lie against 
her, Captain Perry having reserved for himself a commander's 
privilege of engaging the principal vessel of the opposing 
squadron ; but, it now appearing that the anticipated arrange- 
ment had not been made, the plan was promptly altered. 
Captain Barclay had formed his line with the Chippeway, Mr. 
Campbell, armed with one gun on a pivot, in the van ; the 
Detroit, his own vessel, next ; and the Hunter, Lieutenant, 
Bignall ; Queen Charlotte, Captain Finnis ; Lady Prevost, 
Lieutenant Commandant Buchan ; and Little Belt astern, in 
the order named. To oppose this line, the Ariel, of four long 
twelves, was stationed in the van, and the Scorpion, of one 
long and one short gun on circles, next her. The Lawrence, 
Captain Perry, came next ; the two schooners just mentioned 
keeping on her weather bow, having no quarters. The Cale- 



388 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

donia, Lieutenant Turner, was the next astern, and the 
Niagara, Captain Elliot, was placed next to the Caledonia. 
These vessels were all up at the time, but the other light craft 
were more or less distant, each endeavouring to get into her 
berth. The order of battle for the remaining vessels, directed 
the Tigress to fall in astern of the Niagara, the Somers next, 
and then the Porcupine and Trippe, in the order named. 

By this time the wind had got to be very light, but the lead- 
ing vessels were all in their stations, and the remainder were 
endeavouring to get in as fast as possible. The English ves- 
sels presented a very gallant array, and their appearance was 
beautiful and imposing. Their line was compact, with the 
heads of the vessels still to the southward and westward ; their 
ensigns were just opening to the air ; their vessels were freshly 
painted, and their canvass Avas new and perfect. The Ameri- 
can line was more straggling. The order of battle required 
them to form within half a cable's length of each other, but the 
schooners astern could not close with the vessels ahead, which 
sailed faster, and had more light canvass, until some consider- 
able time had elapsed. 

A few minutes before twelve, the Detroit threw a twenty- 
four-pound shot at the Lawrence, then on her weather quarter, 
distant between one and two miles. Captain Perry now passed 
an order by trumpet, through the vessels astern, for the line to 
close to the prescribed order ; and soon after, the Scorpion was 
hailed, and directed to begin with her long gun. At this mo- 
ment, the American vessels in line were edging down upon the 
English, those in front being necessarily nearer to the enemy 
than those more astern, with the exception of the Ariel and 
Scorpion, which two schooners had been ordered to keep well 
to windward of the Lawrence. As the Detroit had an arma- 
ment of long guns, Captain Barclay manifested his judgment 
in commencing the action in this manner ; and in a short time, 
the firing between that ship, the Lawrence, and the two 
schooners at the head of the American line, got to be very 
animated. The Lawrence now showed a signal for the 
squadron to close, each vessel in her station, as previously 
designated. A few minutes later the vessels astern began to 
fire, and the action became general but distant. The Law- 
rence, however, appeared to be the principal aim of the enemy, 
and before the firing had lasted any material time, the Detroit, 
Hunter, and Queen Charlotte, were directing most of their 
efforts against her. The American brig endeavoured to close, 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 389 

and did succeed in getting within reach of canister, though 
not without suffering materially, as she fanned down upon the 
enemy. At this time, the support of the two schooners ahead, 
which were well commanded and fought, was of the greatest 
moment to her ; for the vessels astern, though in the line, could 
be of little use n diverting the fire, on account of their positions 
and the distance. After the firing had lasted some time, the 
Niagara hailed the Caledonia, and directed the latter to make 
room for the former to pass ahead. Mr. Turner put his helm 
up in the most dashing manner, and continued to near the 
enemy, until he was closer to his line, perhaps, than the com- 
manding vessel ; keeping up as warm a fire as his small arma- 
ment would allow. The Niagara now became the vessel next 
astern of the Lawrence. 

The cannonade had the usual effect of deadening the wind, 
and for two hours there was very little air. During all this 
time, the weight of the enemy's fire was directed against the 
Lawrence ; the Queen Charlotte having filled, passed the Hun- 
ter, and closed with the Detroit, where she kept up a destruc- 
tive cannonading on this devoted vessel. These united attacks 
dismantled the American brig, besides producing great slaugh- 
ter on board her. At the end of two hours and a half, agree- 
ably to the report of Captain Perry, the enemy having filled, 
and the wind increasing, the two squadrons drew slowly ahead, 
the Lawrence necessarily falling astern and partially out of the 
combat. At this moment the Niagara passed to the southward 
and westward, a short distance to windward of the Lawrence, 
steering for the head of the enemy's line, and the Caledonia 
followed to leeward. 

The vessels astern had not been idle, but, by dint of sweep- 
ing and sailing, they had all got within reach of their guns, 
and had been gradually closing, though not in the prescribed 
order. The rear of the line would seem to have inclined down 
towards the enemy, bringing the Trippe, Lieutenant Holdup, 
so near the Caledonia, that the latter sent a boat to her for a 
supply of cartridges. 

Captain Perry, finding himself in a vessel that had been 
rendered nearly useless by the injuries she had received, and 
which was dropping out of the combat, got into his boat, and 
pulled after the Niagara, on board of which vessel he arrived 
at about half-past 2. Soon after, the colours of the Lawrence 
were hauled down, that vessel being literally a wreck. 

After a short consultation between Captains Perry and 
33* 



390 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

Elliott, the latter volunteered to take the boat of the former, 
and to proceed and bring the small vessels astern, which were 
already briskly engaged, into still closer action. This propo- 
sal being accepted, Captain Elliott pulled down the line, passing 
within hail of all the small vessels astern, directing them to 
close within half pistol-shot of the enemy, and to throw in 
grape and canister, as soon as they could get the desired posi- 
tions. He then repaired on board the Somers, and took charge 
of that schooner in person. 

When the enemy saw the colours of the Lawrence come 
down, he confidently believed that he had gained the day. 
His men appeared over the bulwarks of the different vessels 
and gave three cheers. For a few minutes, indeed, there ap- 
pears to have been, as if by common consent, nearly a general 
cessation in the firing, during which both parties were pre- 
paring for a desperate and final effort. The wind had fresh- 
ened, and the position of the Niagara, which brig was now 
abeam of the leading English vessel, was commanding ; while 
the gun-vessels astern, in consequence of the increasing breeze, 
were enabled to close very fast. 

At 45 minutes past 2, or when time had been given to the 
gun-vessels to receive the order mentioned, Captain Perry 
showed the signal from the Niagara, for close action, and im« 
mediately bore up, under his foresail, topsails, and topgallant- 
sail. As the American vessels hoisted their answering flags, 
this order was received with three cheers, and it was obeyed 
with alacrity and spirit. The enemy had attempted to ware 
round, to get fresh broadsides to bear, in doing which his line 
got into confusion, and the two ships for a short time, were 
foul of each other, while the Lady Prevost had so far shifted 
her berth, as to be both to the westward and to the leeward of 
the Detroit. At this critical moment, the Niagara came 
steadily down, within half pistol-shot of the enemy, standing 
between the Chippeway and Lady Prevost, on one side, and 
the Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Hunter, on the other. In 
passing, she poured in her broadsides, starboard and larboard, 
ranged ahead of the ships, luffed athwart their bows, and con- 
tinued delivering a close and deadly fire. The shrieks from 
the Detroit, proclaimed that the tide of battle had turned. At 
the same moment, the gun-vessels and Caledonia were throw- 
ing in close discharges of grape and canister astern. A con- 
flict so fearfully close, and so deadly, was necessarily short. 
In fifteen or twenty minutes after the Niagara bore up, a hail 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 391 

was passed among the small vessels, to say that the enemy- 
had struck, and an officer of the Queen Charlotte appeared on 
the taffrail of that ship, waving a white handkerchief, bent to 
a boarding-pike. 

As soon as the smoke cleared away, the two squadrons were 
found partly intermingled. The Niagara lay to leeward of 
the Detroit, Queen Charlotte, and Hunter ; and the Caledonia, 
with one or two of the gun-vessels, was between the latter and 
the Lady Prevost. On board the Niagara, the signal for close 
action was still abroad, while the small vessels were sternly 
wearing their answering flags. The Little Belt and Chippe- 
way were endeavouring to escape to leeward, but they were 
shortly after brought-to by the Scorpion and Trippe ; while 
the Lawrence was lying astern and to windward, with the 
American colours again flying. The battle had commenced 
about noon, and it terminated at 3, with the exception of a few 
shots fired at the two vessels that attempted to escape, which 
were not overtaken until an hour later. 

In this decisive action, so far as their people were concern- 
ed, the two squadrons suffered in nearly an equal degree, the 
manner in which the Lawrence was cut up, being almost with- 
out an example in naval warfare. It is understood that when 
Captain Perry left her, she had but one gun on her starboard 
side, or that on which she was engaged, which could be used, 
and that gallant officer is said to have aided in firing it in per- 
son the last time it was discharged. Of her crew, 22 were 
killed, and 61 were wounded, most of the latter severely. 
When Captain Perry left her, taking with him his own brother 
and six of his people, there remained on board but 14 sound 
men. The Niagara had 2 killed, and 25 wounded, or about 
one-fourth of all at quarters. This was the official report ; 
but, according to the statement of her surgeon, her loss was 
5 killed, and 27 wounded. The other vessels suffered rela- 
tively less. The Caledonia, Lieutenant Turner, though car- 
ried into the hottest of the action, and entirely without quar- 
ters, had 3 men wounded ; the Trippe, Lieutenant Holdup, 
which, for some time, was quite as closely engaged, and was 
equally without quarters, had 2 men wounded ; the Somers, 
Mr. Almy, the same ; the Ariel, Lieutenant Packett, had 1 
man killed, and 3 wounded ; the Scorpion, Mr. Champlin, had 
2 killed, one of whom was a midshipman ; the Tigress, Lieu- 
tenant Conklin, and Porcupine, Mr. Senatt, had no one hurt. 
The total loss of the squadron was 27 killed, and 96 wound- 



392 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

ed, or altogether 123 men; of whom 12 were quarter-deck 
officers. More than a hundred men were unfit for duty, among 
the different vessels, previously to the action, cholera morbus and 
dysentery prevailing in the squadron. Captain Perry himself 
was labouring under debility, from a recent attack of the lake 
fever, and could hardly be said to be in a proper condition for 
service, when he met the enemy ; a circumstance that greatly 
enhances the estimate of his personal exertions on this memo- 
rable occasion. Among the Americans slain, were Lieutenant 
Brooks, the commanding marine officer, and Messrs. Laub and 
Clark, midshipmen ; and among the wounded, Messrs. Yarnall 
and Forrest, the first and second lieutenants of the Lawrence, 
Mr. Taylor, her master, Mr. Hambleton, her purser, and 
Messrs. Swartwout and Claxton, two of her midshipmen. Mr. 
Edwards, second lieutenant of the Niagara, and Mr. Cum- 
mings, one of her midshipmen, were also wounded. 

For two hours the weight of the enemy's fire had been 
thrown into the Lawrence ; and the water being perfectly 
smooth, his long guns had committed great havoc, before the 
carronades of the American vessels could be made available. 
For much of this period, it is believed that the efforts of the 
enemy were little diverted, except by the fire of the two lead- 
ing schooners, a gun of one of which (the Ariel) had early 
bursted, the two long guns of the large brigs, and the two long 
guns of the Caledonia. Although the enemy undoubtedly suf- 
fered by this fire, it was not directed at a single object, as was 
the case with that of the English, who appeared to think that 
by destroying the American commanding vessel they would 
conquer. It is true that carronades were used on both sides, 
at an earlier stage of the action than that mentioned, but there 
is good reason for thinking that they did but little execution 
for the first hour. When they did tell, the Lawrence, the ves- 
sel nearest to the enemy, if the Caledonia be excepted, neces- 
sarily became their object, and, by this time, the efficiency of 
her own battery was much lessened. As a consequence of 
these peculiar circumstances, her starboad bulwarks were near- 
ly beaten in ; and even her larboard were greatly injured, 
many of the enemy's heavy shot passing through both sides ; 
while every gun was finally disabled in the batteries fought. 
Although much has been justly said of the manner in which 
the Bon Homme Richard and the Essex were injured, neither 
of those ships suffered, relatively, in a degree proportioned to 
the Lawrence. Distinguished as were the two former vessels, 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 393 

for the indomitable resolution with which they withstood the 
destructive fire directed against them, it did not surpass that 
manifested on board the latter ; and it ought to be mentioned, 
that throughout the whole of this trying day, her people, who 
had been so short a time acting together, manifested a steadi- 
ness and a discipline worthy of veterans. 

Although the Niagara suffered in a much less degree, 27 
men killed and wounded, in a ship's company that mustered 
little more than 100 souls at quarters, under ordinary circum- 
stances, would be thought a large proportion. Neither the 
Niagara nor any of the smaller vessels were injured in an 
unusual manner in their hulls, spars, and sails, the enemy hav- 
ing expended so much of his efforts against the Lawrence, and 
being so soon silenced when that brig and the gun-vessels got 
their raking positions, at the close of the conflict. 

The injuries sustained by the English were more divided, 
but were necessarily great. According to the official report 
of Captain Barclay, his vessels lost 41 killed, and 94 wound- 
ed, making a total of 135, including twelve officers, the pre- 
cise number lost by the Americans. No report has been pub- 
lished, in which the loss of the respective vessels was given ; 
but the Detroit had her first lieutenant killed, and her com- 
mander, Captain Barclay, with her purser, wounded. Captain 
Finnis, of the Queen Charlotte, was also slain, and her first 
lieutenant was wounded. The commanding officer and first 
lieutenant of the Lady Prevost were among the wounded, as 
were the commanding officers of the Hunter and Chippeway. 
All the vessels were a good deal injured in their sails and hulls ; 
the Queen Charlotte suffering most in proportion. Both the 
Detroit and Queen Charlotte rolled the masts out of them, at 
anchor at Put-in Bay, in a gale of wind, two days after the 
action. 

It is not easy to make a just comparison between the forces 
of the hostile squadrons on this occasion. In certain situations 
the Americans would have been materially superior, while in 
others the enemy might possess the advantage in perhaps an 
equal degree. In the circumstances under which the action 
was actually fought, the peculiar advantages and disadvantages 
were nearly equalized, the lightness of the wind peventing 
either of the two largest of the American vessels from profit- 
ing by its peculiar mode of efficiency, until quite near the 
close of the engagement, and particularly favouring the arma- 
ment of the Detroit ; while the smoothness of the water ren- 



394 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

dered the light vessels of the Americans very destructive as 
soon as they could be got within a proper range. The De- 
troit has been represented on good authority, to have been both 
a heavier and stronger ship, than either of the American brigs, 
and the Queen Charlotte proved to be a much finer vessel than 
had been expected ; while the Lady Prevost was found to be 
a large, warlike schooner. It was, perhaps, unfortunate for 
the enemy, that the armaments of the two last were not avail- 
able under the circumstances which rendered the Detroit so 
efficient, as it destroyed the unity of his efforts. In short, the 
battle, for near half its duration, appears to have been fought, 
so far as efficiency was concerned, by the long guns of the 
two squadrons. This was particularly favourable to the De- 
troit and to the American gun-vessels ; while the latter fought 
under the advantages of smooth water, and the disadvantages 
of having no quarters. The sides of the Detroit, which were 
unusually stout, were filled with shot that did not penetrate. 

In the number of men at quarters, there could have been no 
great disparity in the two squadrons. Mr. Yarnall, the first; 
lieutenant of the Lawrence, testified before a court of inquiry, 
in 1815, that the brig to which he belonged had but " 131 men 
and boys, of every description" on board her, and that of these 
but 103 were fit for duty in the action. The Niagara was 
nearly in the same state. A part of the crews of all the ves- 
sels belonged to the militia. Indeed, without a large propor- 
tion of volunteers from the army, the battle could not have 
been fought. The British were no better off, having a con- 
siderable proportion of soldiers on board their vessels, though 
men of that description were probably as efficient in smooth 
water, and under the actual circumstances, as ordinary sailors. 

Captain Perry, in his report of the action, eulogised the con- 
duct of his second in command, Captain Elliott; that of Mr. 
Turner, who commanded the Caledonia ; and that of the officers 
of his own vessel. He also commended the officers of tho 
Niagara, Mr. Packett of the Ariel, and Mr. Champlin of the 
Scorpion. It is now believed that the omission of the names 
of the commanders of the gun-vessels astern, was accidental. 
It would seem that these vessels, in general, were conducted 
with great gallantry. Towards the close of the action, indeed, 
the Caledonia, and some of the gun-vessels, would appear to 
have been handled with a boldness, considering their total 
want of quarters, bordering on temerity. They are known to 
have been within hail of the enemy, at the moment he struck, 
and to have been hailed by him. The grape and canister 



1813.] NAVAL HISTORY. 395 

thrown by the Niagara and the schooners, during the last ten 
minutes of the battle, and which missed the enemy, rattled 
through the spars of the friendly vessels, as they lay opposite 
to each other, raking the English ahead and astern. 

Captain Perry was criticised, at the time, for the manner in 
which he had brought his squadron into action, it being thought 
he should have waited until his line was more compactly 
formed, and his small vessels could have closed. It has been 
said, that " an officer seldom went into action worse, or got 
out of it belter." Truth is too often made the sacrifice of 
antithesis. The mode of attack appears to have been deemed 
by the enemy judicious, an opinion that speaks in its favour. 
The lightness of the wind, in edging down, was the only cir- 
cumstance that was particularly adverse to the American ves- 
sels, but its total failure could not have been foreseen. The 
shortness of the distances on the lake rendered escape so easy, 
when an officer was disposed to avoid a battle, that no com- 
mander, who desired an action, would have been pardonable 
for permitting a delay on such a plea. The line of battle was 
highly judicious, the manner in which the Lawrence was sup- 
ported by the Ariel and Scorpion being simple and ingenious. 
By steering for the head of the enemy's line, the latter was 
prevented from gaining the wind by tacking, and when Captain 
Elliott imitated this manoeuvre in the Niagara, the American 
squadron had a very commanding position, of which Captain 
Perry promptly availed himself. In a word, the American 
commander appears to have laid his plan with skill and judg- 
ment, and, in all in which it was frustrated, it would seem 1o 
have been the effect of accident. There has never been but 
one opinion of the manner in which he redeemed his error, 
even admitting that a fault was made at the outset ; the united 
movements of the Niagara and of the small vessels, at the 
close of the action, having been as judicious as they were gal- 
lant and decisive. The personal deportment of Captain Perry, 
throughout the day, was worthy of all praise. He did not 
quit his own vessel when she became useless, to retire from 
the battle, but to gain it ; an end that was fully obtained, and 
an effort which resulted in a triumph. 

The British vessels appear to have been gallantly fought, and 
were surrendered only when the battle was hopelessly lost. 
The fall of their different commanders was materially against 
them, though it is not probable the day could have been reco- 
vered after the Niagara gained the head of their line and tho 



396 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813-14. 

gun-vessels had closed. If the enemy made an error, it was 
in not tacking when he attempted to ware, but it is quite pro- 
bable that the condition of his vessels did not admit of the 
former manoeuvre. There was an instant when the enemy be- 
lieved himself the conqueror, and a few minutes even, when 
the Americans doubted ; but the latter never despaired ; a mo- 
ment sufficed to change their feelings, teaching the successful 
the fickleness of fortune, and admonishing the depressed of the 
virtue of perseverance. 

For his conduct in this battle, Captain Perry received a gold 
medal from Congress. Captain Elliott also received a gold 
medal. Rewards were bestowed on the officers and men 
generally, and the nation has long considered this action one 
of its proudest achievements on the water. 

On the 28d of October, the squadron transported the army 
of General Harrison to BufFalo; and on the 25th, Captain Perry 
resigned the command of the upper lakes to Captain Elliott, 
repairing himself to the sea-board. November 29th, this gal- 
lant and successful officer received the commission of a cap- 
tain, which was dated on the day of the victory, and soon after 
he was appointed to the command of the Java 44, a new fri- 
gate, then fitting for sea at Baltimore. 



CHAPTER XLV. 

In February, 1814, three vessels were laid down at the Har- 
bour, a frigate of 50 guns, and two large brigs, pierced for 22 
guns each. As the English were known to be building extensive- 
ly, the timber was also got out for a second frigate. Early in 
March many deserters came in, who agreed in stating that 
the largest of the enemy's new ships, which had been laid 
down the previous autumn, was caulked and decked, and that 
she was pierced for 60 guns. A third ship was also said to 
be in preparation. In consequence of this intelligence, the size 
of the first American frigate was materially increased. March 
26th, the important information was obtained that the enemy 
had actually laid down a two-decked vessel of unusual dimen- 
sions. Thus did those inland waters, on which, until quite 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 397 

lately, nothing had ever floated larger than a sloop of war, bid 
fair to witness the evolutions of fleets ! 

On the 7th of April one of the new brigs was launched. She 
was called the Jefferson. Still the guns which had left New 
York two months previously, had not even reached Albany. 
The other brig was launched on the 10th, and was called the 
Jones. Not a man or gun, however, had yet arrived. April 
the 11th, the enemy was ascertained to be in the stream, with 
all his vessels of the previous year; and on the 14th, he put 
his two frigates into the water. The Lady of the Lake was 
sent out to watch the motions of the English, as soon as the 
state of the ice permitted. 

April 25th, while rowing guard, Lieutenant Dudley detected 
three boats in the offing, and immediately fired into them. 
The strangers did not return the fire, but pulled swiftly away. 
Obtaining a reinforcement, Mr. Dudley gave chase, but could 
not again fall in with the suspicious party. The next day 
there was a close search, and at the spot where the strangers 
received the fire of the guard-boat, six barrels of gunpowder 
were found in the lake, slung in such a manner, that one man 
might carry two at a time, across his shoulders. They had 
fuse-holes, and were, no doubt, intended to blow up the frigate. 

On the 2d of May, the American frigate was launched. 
She was called the Superior. Another of less size, was im- 
mediately laid down on her blocks. The guns began to arrive 
at the Harbour about the beginning of May, though the heavi- 
est were still working their way through the imperfect naviga- 
tion of the Mohawk and Wood Creek, towards Oswego. On 
the 4th, the Lady of the Lake, Lieutenant Gregory, saw six 
sail of the enemy coming out of Kingston, about dusk, steering 
towards Amherst Bay ; and on the 5th, the latter appeared off 
Oswego, with seven sail. The greatest exertions were now 
made to get the Pike, Madison, Jefferson, Sylph, and Oneida, 
ready to follow him ; these being all the vessels that had their 
armaments, the small schooners being pretty generally aban- 
doned as cruisers, and converted into transports. But a report 
was received from Captain Woolsey, then on duty at Oswego, 
that one of the new frigates was certainly in the enemy's 
squadron ; and Mr. Gregory brought in information that he had 
seen the other off the Ducks the same day : when Commodore 
Chauncey abandoned the intention to go out, the great superi- 
ority of the English putting a battle out of the question. 
34 



398 NAVAL HISTORY. [1813. 

The active cruising force under Sir James Yeo, consisted 
of the Prince Regent 58, Captain O'Connor, the flag-ship, 
armed with heavy long guns, sixty-eight and thirty-two-pound 
carronades, and containing near 500 men $ the Princess Char- 
lotte 42, Captain Mulcaster, having guns nearly or quite as 
heavy, and between 300 and 400 men ; the Monti-eal, (late 
Wolfe,) Captain Downie ; the Niagara, (late Royal George,) 
Captain Popham ; the Charwell, (late Moira,) Lieutenant 
Dobbs ; Magnet, (late Sidney Smith ;) the Star, (late Melville,) 
Captain Clover ; and the Netley, (late Beresford,) Lieutenant 
Owen. It was evident that nothing less than unusually heavy 
frigates could lie against the largest of these vessels. 

Captain Woolsey had been sent to Oswego, to transport the 
heavy guns, cables, &c, of the two new frigates, most of which 
had reached the falls, twelve miles above that town, where they 
were kept for the sake of security, until the schooners could be 
loaded, and despatched singly. The Growler was in the river 
with that object, when Sir James Yeo appeared in the offing. 
He was about to make a descent, with a body of troops, on the 
5th, but the weather induced him to defer the enterprise. On 
this occasion, there was some firing, and the enemy abandoned 
an empty boat or two. The succeeding day, however, every 
thing being favourable, the original design was resumed. 

At the moment when Sir James Yeo appeared, a battalion 
of the light artillery, consisting of 290 effectives, under Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Mitchell, was at Fort Oswego, and but a few 
militia had been called in, the adjacent country being little 
more than a wilderness. It would trespass on another branch 
of the subject, minutely to relate the affair that followed. Lieu- 
tenant General Drummond landed, and carried the place after 
a sharp resistance ; the Americans having too small a force to 
repel him. 

The enemy remained two days at Oswego, when they raised 
the Growler, and carried her off; this making the third time 
that vessel had been taken during the last year. But few 
stores were found in the village, the orders of Commodore 
Chauncey having required that they should be kept at the falls, 
until vessels were ready to receive them. 

Sir James Yeo now returned to Kingston, landed the troops, 
and on the 19th, he came out and chased the Lady of the Lake 
into the Harbour, off which place he appeared with four ships 
and three brigs, blockading the port, for the first and only time 
during the war. At this moment, many of the stores, and 



1814,] NAVAL HISTORY. 399 

some of the lighter guns, were coming in by land, though the 
heavy guns and cables still remained in the Oswego river. 

About the middle of May, reinforcements of officers and men 
began to arrive from the seaboard. The Macedonian had been 
laid up in the Thames, and Mr. Rodgers, her first lieutenant, 
came in with her crew, between the 11th and the 21st. Cap- 
tain Elliott rejoined the station on the 12th, and Captain 
Trenchard on the 15th. The Erie, a new sloop of war, then 
blockaded at Baltimore, had also been laid up, and her com- 
mander, Captain Ridgely, with his people, arrrived some time 
before, and were put on board the Jefferson. 

Notwithstanding all the exertions that had been made in 
building, the ships were useless without guns and cables, and 
most of those intended for the two frigates, had yet to be trans- 
ported to the Harbour by water, their weight and the state of 
the roads rendering other means too costly and difficult. Cap- 
tain Woolsey, who was still entrusted with this duty, caused 
reports to b'e circulated that the heavy articles were to be sent 
back to the Oneida lake; and when time had been allowed for 
the enemy to receive this false information, he ran the guns 
over the falls, and at sunset, on the 28th of May, he reached 
Oswego with 19 boats loaded with 21 long thirty-two-pounders, 
18 twenty-four pounders, 3 forty-two-pound carronades, and 
10 cables. The look-outs having reported the coast clear, the 
brigade of boats rowed out of the river, at dusk, and after pass- 
ing a dark and rainy night at the oars, reached the mouth of 
Big Salmon River, at sunrise on the 29th, one boat having 
unaccountably disappeai-ed. 

Captain Woolsey was accompanied by a detachment of 130 
riflemen, under Major Appling, and at the Big Salmon he also 
met a party of Oneida Indians, which had been directed to fol- 
low on the shore. The brigade now proceeded, entered the 
Big Sandy Creek, and ascended about two miles to its place of 
destination ; the blockade rendering it necessary to convey the 
supplies by land the remainder of the distance. 

At this time, the English squadron lay at anchor, a few 
miles from the Harbour, and the missing boat had gone ahead, 
in the professed hope of making the whole distance by water. 
Seeing the English ships, either by mistake or treachery it 
pulled directly for them, under a belief, real or pretended, that 
they were Americans. It is thought, however, that the people 
in the boat were deceived. 

From the prisoners, Sir James Yeo learned the situation of 



400 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

the remainder of the brigade. He had gun-boats on the sta- 
tion, and Captain Popham of the Montreal, was put into one, 
and Captain Spilsbury into another having three cutters and a 
gig in company. After cruising without success, separately, 
the two parties joined, and having ascertained that the brigade 
had entered Sandy Creek, they followed on the 30th, with the 
expectation of capturing it. Major Appling, being apprised of 
the approach of the enemy, placed his riflemen, supported by 
the Indians, in ambush, about half a mile below the place 
where Captain Woolsey was discharging the stores. The ene- 
my had a party of marines on board, under two lieutenants of 
that corps. These, in conjunction with a body of seamen, 
were landed, and the gun-boats approached, throwing grape and 
canister into the bushes, with a view to feel their way. Ma- 
jor Appling permitted the enemy to get quite near, when he 
threw in a close discharge of the rifle. The resistance was 
trifling, and in ten minutes the whole of the English demanded 
quarter. The enemy had a midshipman and 13 seamen and 
marines killed, and 2 lieutenants of marines, with 26 common 
men wounded. In addition to the wounded, there was a suffi- 
cient number of prisoners made to raise his total loss to 186. 
All the boats were taken, the three gun-vessels carrying 68, 
24, 18 and 12 pound carronades. Among the prisoners were 
Captains Popham and Spilsbury, 4 sea-lieutenants, and 2 mid- 
shipmen. Although there was a considerable force a short 
distance above, without the range of the rifle, the command of 
Major Appling, which effected this handsome exploit, was 
scarcely equal to the enemy in numbers, and yet he had but a 
single man wounded. This little success was the effect of a 
surprise and an ambush. 

Most of the Superior's guns having now arrived, the enemy 
raised the blockade on the 6th of June. Two days later the 
last of the guns actually reached Sackett's Harbour. The fri- 
gate which had been laid down on the blocks of the Superior, 
was launched on the 11th of June, having been put into the 
water in 34 working days, from the time her keel was laid. 
She was called the Mohawk. Still the squadron was 500 men 
short of its complements, though the crew of the Congress 38, 
which was undergoing extensive repairs, at Portsmouth, N. 
H., had been ordered to this service. About the middle of the 
month, the latter began to arrive. The enemy also continued 
to reinforce both his army and his marine, 200 boats at a time 
having been observed passing up the St. Lawrence. 



1814.1 NAVAL HISTORY. 401 

About the middle of the month, Commodore Chauncey sent 
Acting Lieutenant Gregory, with three gigs, into the St. Law- 
rence, where the enemy had a line of gun-boats, to cover the 
passage of his supplies and reinforcements, with directions to 
surprise some of his boats loaded with stores, and, if possible, 
to destroy them. For this purpose Mr. Gregory lay in am- 
bush on one of the islands, but was discovered by the look-outs 
of the enemy, who immediately despatched a gun-boat in chase. 
Instead of retiring before this force, Mr. Gregory determined 
to become the assailant, and he dashed at the gun-boat, car- 
rying her without the loss of a man. This vessel had an 
eighteen-pound carronade, and a crew of 18 men. While pro- 
ceeding up the river with his prize, Mr. Gregory was chased 
by a much larger boat, mounting 2 guns, and pulling a great 
number of oars, which compelled him to scuttle and abandon 
her. On this occasion Mr. Gregory was accompanied by 
Messrs. Vaughan and Dixon, two gallant mariners of the lake, 
and he brought in nearly as many prisoners as he had men. 

Ten days later, Mr. Gregory was sent with two gigs, ac- 
companied as before by Messrs. Vaughan and Dixon, to Ni- 
cholas Island, near Presque Isle, where the enemy had a 
cruiser, intended to mount 14 guns, nearly ready to launch, 
and to endeavour to destroy her. This duty, after running 
much risk, and suffering greatly from hunger, was effectually 
performed by the party, which was absent near a week. The 
day after his return from this expedition, Mr. Gregory received 
the commission of a lieutenant, which had been conferred on 
him for the handsome manner in which he had captured the 
gun -boat. 

On the afternoon of the 31st of July, Commodore Chauncey, 
who had been very ill, was carried on board the Superior, and 
the American squadron sailed. Its force consisted of the Su- 
perior 62, Lieutenant Elton, Commodore Chauncey ; Mohawk 
42, Captain Jones ; Pike 28, Captain Crane ; Madison 24, 
Captain Trenchard ; Jefferson 22, Captain Ridgely ; Jones 22, 
Captain Woolscy ; Sylph 14, Captain Elliott ; Oneida 14, Lieu- 
tenant Commandant Brown, and the Lady of the Lake, look- 
out vessel. There is no question that this force, which, with 
the exception of the Oneida, was composed of efficient vessels, 
was superior to that of the English, who were striving to regain 
the ascendency, by constructing, as fast as possible, the two- 
decker already mentioned. 

Commodore Chauncey, whose health rapidly improved in 



402 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

the pure air of the lake, appeared off the Niagara, now by the 
vicissitudes of war again in the possession of the English, on 
the 5th of August. As the American vessels approached, they 
intercepted one of the English brigs, which was convoying 
troops from York to Niagara, and she was chased ashore about 
two leagues to the westward of Fort George. 

Commodore Chauncey left the Jefferson, Sylph, and Oneida 
to watch two brigs of the enemy, who were then lying in the 
Niagara, and went off Kingston, where he arrived on the 9th. 
One of the English ships was in the offing, and was chased 
into port by the American squadron. The next day, the Jones, 
Captain Woolsey, was sent to cruise between Oswego and the 
Harbour ; and the Conquest, Lieutenant Reid, one of the best 
of the schooners, which had been kept armed for any light ser- 
vice that might offer, was employed on the same duty, the 
enemy having intercepted some flour that was passing, by 
means of boats. 

From this time, until the month of October, Commodore 
Chauncey continued a close blockade of Sir James Yeo, in 
Kingston, having undisputed command of the entire lake. 
With a view to tempt the English to come out, he kept only 
four vessels in the offing, and as the enemy had an equal 
number, it was thought the provocation might induce him to 
risk a battle. Some guns were also sent ashore, with a view 
to bring the vessels as near as possible to an equality. The 
American ships were the Superior 58,* Mohawk 42, Pike 28, 
and Madison 24 ; the British, the Prince Regent 58, Princess 
Charlotte 42, Wolfe 25, and Niagara 24. There was also a 
large schooner at Kingston, and several gun-boats and smaller 
vessels. It is probable that there was a trifling superiority on 
the part of the Americans, notwithstanding; for in a conflict 
between vessels of so much force, the smaller craft could be 
of no great moment ; but it was such a superiority as the enemy 
had long been accustomed to disregard ; and the result showed 
that the American marine commanded his respect to a degree 
which rendered the minutest calculations of force necessary. 

On the 20th of August, the blockading ships were driven off 
by a gale ; and on regaining their station on the 25th, the 
enemy could not be seen in port. Lieutenant Gregory, with 
Mr. Hart, a midshipman, was immediately sent in, in a gig, to 
reconnoitre. While on this duty, Mr. Gregory landed to set 

* Four guns having been landed 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 403 

fire to a raft of picket-timber that he accidentally passed. This 
deviation from the direct route, brought the gig so near in-shore, 
that two barges of the enemy, carrying 30 men, were enabled 
to head it, as it doubled a point. A chase, and a sharp fire of 
musketry ensued, Mr. Gregory persevering in his attempt to 
escape, until Mr. Hart was killed, and five men out of eight 
were wounded, when this enterprising officer was obliged to 
surrender. 

On the 11th of September, the wind came from the north- 
ward, when Commodore Chauncey stood in towards Kingston, 
and brought-to, just without the drop of the shot from the bat- 
teries ; and the ships hoisted their ensigns, as a challenge for 
the enemy to come out. The English sprung their broadsides 
to bear, set their colours, but did not accept the defiance. It 
was now seen that the two-decker was launched, and she was 
ascertained to be very large. After remaining close in, for a 
considerable time, the American ships filled and gained an 
offing. 

The next day it came on to blow, and the squadron was 
compelled to make an offing. The gale lasted until the 15th, 
when the Lady of the Lake joined, to say that General Izard 
had reached the Harbour. The ships now went in, for the 
first time, since the 2d of August, having kept the lake 45 
days; much of the time under canvass. On the 16th, the 
look-out vessel was sent to order in the different brigs. 

The division of General Izard was landed at the mouth of 
the Genesee, on the 22d. As soon as this duty was performed, 
Commodore Chauncey went off Kingston again, where he ap- 
peared on the 28th. Two of the enemy's ships were coming 
out under a press of sail, but were driven back. The 29th, 
the wind being fair, the squadron looked into Kingston again, 
and the Lady was sent close in, when it was found that the 
large ship, which had been called the St. Lawrence, was com- 
pletely rigged, but had no sails bent. As this vessel was 
pierced for 112 guns, and was intended for metal in propor- 
tion, she was more than equal to meeting the whole American 
force. On the 5th of October, the Sylph looked in again, and 
found her sails bent and topgallant-yards crossed, when Com- 
modore Chauncey ran over to the Harbour, where he anchored 
on the 7th, and prepared to receive an attack. 

Sir James Yeo sailed in the St. Lawrence, with four other 
ships, two brigs, and a schooner, on the 15th of October, and 
he continued in command of the lake for the remainder of the 



404 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

season. He is said to have had more than 1100 men in his 
flag-ship ; and it was understood that the enemy had become 
so wary, that a captain was stationed on each deck. Other 
duty probably occupied him, for no attempt was made on the 
Harbour, nor did the enemy even blockade it ; the necessities 
of the Niagara frontier calling his attention in that quarter. 
At the end of the month of November, the navigation closed. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

In the autumn of 1814, the enemy contemplated an inva- 
sion of the northern and least populous counties of New York, 
with a large force, following the route laid down for General 
Burgoyne, in his unfortunate expedition of 1777. It was most 
probably intended to occupy a portion of the northern frontier, 
with the expectation of turning the circumstance to account 
in the pending negotiations, the English commissioners soon 
after advancing a claim to drive the Americans back from 
their ancient boundaries, with a view to leave Great Britain 
the entire possession of the lakes. In such an expedition, the 
command of Champlain became of great importance, as it 
flanked the march of the invading army for more than a hun- 
dred miles, and offered so many facilities for forwarding sup- 
plies, as well as for annoyance and defence. Until this sea- 
son, neither nation had a force of any moment on that water, 
but the Americans had built a ship and a schooner, during the 
winter and spring ; and when it was found that the enemy 
was preparing for a serious effort, the keel of a brig was laid. 
Many galleys, or gun-boats, were also constructed. 

The American squadron lay in Otter Creek, at the com- 
mencement of the season ; and near the middle of May, as 
the vessels then launched were about to quit port, the enemy 
appeared off the mouth of the creek, with a force consisting 
of the Linnet brig, and eight or ten galleys, under the orders 
of Captain Pring, with a view to fill the channel. For this 
purpose two sloops loaded with stones were in company. A 
small work had been thrown up at the mouth > of the creek 
some time previously, by Captain Thornton of the artillery, 



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1S14.] NAVAL HISTORY. 405 

and Lieutenant Cassin was despatched with a party of sea- 
men, to aid that officer in defending the pass. After a can- 
nonading of some duration, the enemy retired without effecting 
his object, and the vessels got out. In this affair, no one was 
hurt on the side of the Americans, although shells were thrown 
from one of the galleys. 

On the other hand, the English were not idle. In addition 
to the small vessels they had possessed the previous year, they 
had built the brig just mentioned, or the Linnet, and as soon 
as the last American vessel was in frame, they laid the keel 
of a ship. By constructing the latter, a great advantage was 
secured, care being taken, as a matter of course, to make her 
of a size sufficient to be certain of possessing the greatest 
force. The American brig, which was called the Eagle, was 
launched about the middle of August; and the English ship, 
which was named the Confiance, on the 25th of the same 
month. As the English army was already collecting on the 
frontier, the utmost exertions were made by both sides, and 
each appeared on the lake as he got ready. Captain M'Do- 
nough, who still commanded the American force, was enabled 
to get out a kw days before his adversary ; and cruising being 
almost out of the question on this long and narrow body of 
water, he advanced as far as Plattsburg, the point selected for 
the defence, and anchored, the 3d of September, on the flank 
of the troops which occupied the entrenchments at that place. 

About this time, Sir George Prevost, the English commander- 
in-chief, advanced against Plattsburg, then held by Brigadier 
General Macomb at the head of only 1500 effectives, with a 
force that probably amounted to 12,000 men. A good deal 
of skirmishing ensued; and from the 7th to the 11th, the ene- 
my was employed in bringing up his battering train, stores, 
and reinforcements. Captain Downie, late of the Montreal, 
on Lake Ontario, had been sent by Sir James Yeo, to com- 
mand on this lake. 

On the 6th, Captain M'Donough ordered the galleys to the 
head of the bay, to annoy the English army, and a cannon- 
ading occurred which lasted two hours. The wind coming on 
to blow a gale that menaced the galleys with shipwreck, Mr. 
Duncan, a midshipman of the Saratoga, was sent in a gig to 
order them to retire. It is supposed that the appearance of the 
boat induced the enemy to think that Captain M'Donough him- 
self had joined his galleys ; for he concentrated a fire on the 
galley Mr. Duncan was in, and that young officer received a 



40G NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

severe wound, by which he lost the use of his arm. After- 
wards one of the galleys drifted in, under the guns of the 
enemy, and she also sustained some loss, but was eventually 
brought off. 

Captain M'Donough had chosen an anchorage a little to the 
south of the outlet of the Saranac. His vessels lay in a line 
parallel to the coast, extending north and south, and distant 
from the western shore near two miles. The last vessel at the 
southward was so near the shoal, as to prevent the English 
from passing that end of the line, while all the ships lay so far 
out towards Cumberland Head, as to bring the enemy within 
reach of carronades, should he enter the bay on that side. 
The Eagle, Captain Henley, lay at the northern extremity of 
the American line, and what might, during the battle, have 
been called its head, the wind being at the northward and 
eastward ; the Saratoga, Captain M'Donough's own vessel, 
was second ; the Ticonderoga, Lieutenant Commandant Cassin, 
third ; and the Preble, Lieutenant Charles Budd, last. The 
Preble lay a little farther south than the pitch of Cumberland 
Head. The first of these vessels just mentioned was a brig of 
20 guns, and 150 men, all told; the second a ship of 26 guns, 
and 212 men; the third a schooner of 17 guns and 110 men; 
the last a sloop, or cutter, of 7 guns and 30 men. The metal 
of all these vessels, as well as those of the enemy, was unusu- 
ally heavy, there being no swell in the lake to render it dan- 
gerous. The Saratoga mounted 8 long twenty-fours, 6 forty- 
two, and 12 thirty -two-pound carronades ; the Eagle, 8 long 
eighteens, and 12 thirty-two-pound carronades; the Ticonder- 
oga, 4 long eighteens, 8 long twelves, and 4 thirty-two-pound 
carronades, and one eighteen-pound columbiad ; the Preble, 7 
long nines. In addition to these four vessels, the Americans 
had 10 galleys, or gun-boats, six large and four small. Each 
of the former mounted a long twenty-four, and an eighteen 
pound columbiad ; each of the latter one long twelve. The 
galleys, on an average, had about 35 men each. The total 
force of the Americans present consisted, consequently, of 14 
vessels, mounting 86 guns, and containing about 850 men, in- 
cluding officers and a small detachment of soldiers, who did 
duty as marines, none of the corps having been sent on Lake 
Champlain. To complete his order of battle, Captain M'Do- 
nough directed two of the galleys to keep in-shore of the Eagle, 
and a little to windward of her, to sustain the head of the line ; 
one or two more to lie opposite to the interval between the 



1614.] NAVAL HISTORY. 407 

Eagle and Saratoga ; a few opposite to the interval between the 
Saratoga and Ticonderoga ; and two or three opposite the in- 
terval between the Ticonderoga and Preble. 

The Americans were, consequently, formed in two lines, 
distant from each other about 40 yards ; the large vessels at 
anchor, and the galleys, under their sweeps. 

The force of the enemy was materially greater than that of the 
Americans. His largest vessel, the Confiance, commanded by 
Captain Downie in person, had the gun-deck of a heavy fri- 
gate, mounting on it an armament similar to that of the Con- 
stitution or United States, or 30 long twenty-fours. She had 
no spar-deck, but there was a spacious top-gallant forecastle, 
and a poop that came no farther forward than the mizzen-mast. 
On the first were a long twenty-four on a circle, and 4 heavy 
carronades ; and on the last 2 heavy carronades, making an 
armament of 37 guns in all. Her complement of men is sup- 
posed to have been considerably more than 300. The next 
vessel of the enemy was the Linnet, Captain Pring, a brig of 
16 long twelves, with a crew of from 80 to 100 men. There 
were two sloops, the Chubb, Lieutenant M'Ghee, and the Finch, 
Lieutenant Hicks, the former carrying 10 eighteen-pound car- 
ronades, and 1 long six, and the latter 6 eighteen-pound car- 
ronades, 1 eighteen-pound columbiad, and 4 long sixes. Each 
of these sloops had about 40 men. To these four vessels were 
added a force in galleys, or gun-boats, which Sir George Pre- 
vost, in his published accounts, states at twelve in number, and 
Captain M'Donough at thirteen. These vessels were similarly 
constructed to the American galleys, eight mounting two, and 
the remainder but one gun each. Thus the whole force of 
Captain Downie consisted of sixteen or seventeen vessels, as 
the case may have been, mounting in all, 95 or 96 guns, and 
carrying about 1000 men. 

On the 3d of September, the British gun-boats sailed from 
Isle aux Noix, under the orders of Captain Pring, to cover the 
left flank of their army. On the 4th that officer took posses- 
sion of Isle au Motte, where he constructed a battery, and 
landed some supplies for the troops. On the 8th, the four 
larger vessels arrived under Captain Downie, but remained at 
anchor until the 11th, waiting to receive some necessaries. 
At daylight, on the morning just mentioned, the whole force 
weighed, and moved forward in a body. 

The guard-boat of the Americans pulled in shortly after the 
sun had risen, and announced the approach of the enemy. As 



408 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

the wind was fair, a good working breeze at the northward 
and eastward, Captain M'Donough ordered the vessels cleared, 
and preparations made to fight at anchor. Eight bells were 
striking in the American squadron, as the upper sails of the 
English vessels were seen passing along the land, in the main 
lake, on their way to double Cumberland Head. The enemy- 
had the wind rather on his larboard quarter. The Finch led, 
succeeded by the Confiance, Linnet, and Chubb ; while the gun- 
boats, all of which, as well as those of the Americans, had two 
latine sails, followed without much order, keeping just clear of 
the shore. 

The first vessel that came round the Head was a sloop, 
which is said to have earned a company of amateurs, and 
which took no part in the engagement. She kept well to lee- 
ward, stood down towards Crab Island, and was soon un- 
observed. The Finch came next, and soon after the other 
large vessels of the enemy opened from behind the land, and 
hauled up to the wind in a line abreast, lying-to until their 
galleys could join. The latter passed to leeward, and formed 
in the same manner as their consorts. The two squadrons 
were now in plain view of each other, distant about a league. 
As soon as the gun-boats were in their stations, and the dif- 
ferent commanders had received their orders, the English 
filled, with their starboard tacks aboard, and headed in towards 
the American vessels, in a line abreast, the Chubb to wind- 
ward, and the Finch to leeward, most of the gun-boats, how- 
ever, being to leeward of the latter. The movements of the 
Finch had been a little singular ever since she led round the 
Head, for she is said not to have hove-to, but to have run off, 
half-way to Crab Island with the wind abeam, then to have 
tacked and got into her station, after the other vessels had 
filled. This movement was probably intended to reconnoitre, 
or to menace the rear of the Americans. The enemy was now 
standing in, close-hauled, the Chubb looking well to windward 
of the Eagle, the vessel that lay at the head of the American 
line, the Linnet laying her course for the bows of the same 
brig, the Confiance intending to fetch far enough ahead of the 
Saratoga to lay that ship athwart hawse, and the Finch, with 
the gun-boats, standing for the Ticonderoga and Preble. 

As a matter of course, the Americans were anchored with 
springs. But not content with this customary arrangement, 
Captain M'Donough had laid a kedge broad off on each bow 
of the Saratoga, and brought their hawsers in, upon the two 



1814] NAVAL HISTORY. 409 

quarters, letting them hang in bights, under water. This 
timely precaution gained the victory. 

As the enemy filled, the American vessels sprung their 
broadsides to bear, and a few minutes were passed in the so- 
lemn and silent expectation, that, in a disciplined ship, precedes 
a battle. Suddenly the Eagle discharged, in quick succession, 
her four long eighteens. In clearing the decks of the Sara- 
toga, some hen-coops were thrown overboard, and the poultry 
had been permitted to run at large. Startled by the reports 
of the guns, a young cock flew upon a gun-slide, clapped his 
wings and crowed. At this animating sound, the men spon- 
taneously gave three cheers. This little occurrence relieved 
the usual breathing time between preparation and the combat, 
and it had a powerful influence on the known tendencies of the 
seamen. Still Captain M'Donough did not give the order to 
commence, although the enemy's galleys now opened ; for it 
was apparent that the fire of the Eagle, which vessel continued 
to engage, was useless. As soon, however, as it was seen 
that her shot told, Captain M'Donough, himself, sighted a long 
twenty-four, and the gun was fired. This shot is said to have 
struck the Confiance near the outer hawse-hole, and to have 
passed the length of her deck, killing and wounding several 
men, and carrying away the wheel. It was a signal for all 
the American long guns to open, and it was soon seen that the 
English commanding ship, in particular, was suffering heavily. 
Still the enemy advanced, and in the most gallant manner, 
confident if he could get the desired position, that the great 
weight of the Confiance would at once decide the fate of the 
day. But he had miscalculated his own powers of endurance. 
The anchors of the Confiance were hanging by the stoppers, 
in readiness to be let go, and the larboard bower was soon cut 
away, as well as a spare anchor in the larboard fore-chains. 
In short, after bearing the fire of the American vessels as long 
as possible, and the wind beginning to baffle, Captain Downie 
found himself reduced to the necessity of anchoring while still 
at the distance of about a quarter of a mile from the American 
line. The helm was put a-port, the ship shot into the wind, 
and a kedge was let go, while the vessel took a sheer, and 
brought up with her starboard bower. In doing the latter, 
however, the kedge was fouled and became of no use. In 
coming-to, the halyards were let run, and the ship hauled up 
her courses. At this time the Linnet and Chubb were still 
standing in, farther to windward ; and the former, as her guns 
35 



410 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

bore, fired a broadside at the Saratoga. The Linnet soon after 
anchored, somewhat nearer than the Confiance, getting a very 
favourable position forward of the Eagle's beam. The Chubb 
kept under way, intending, if possible, to rake the American 
line. The Finch got abreast of the Ticonderoga, under her 
sweeps, supported by the gun-boats. 

The English vessels came to in- very handsome style, nor 
did the Confiance fire a single gun until secured ; although the 
American line was now engaged with all its force. As soon 
as Captain Downie had performed this duty, in a seaman-like 
manner, his ship appeared a sheet of fire, discharging all her 
guns at nearly the same instant, pointed principally at the Sa- 
ratoga. The effect of this broadside was terrible in the little 
ship that received it. After the crash had subsided, Captain 
M'Donough saw that near half his crew was on the deck, for 
many had been knocked down who sustained no real injuries. 
It is supposed, however, that about 40 men, or near one-fifth 
of her complement, were killed and wounded on board the 
Saratoga, by this single discharge. The hatches had been 
fastened down, as usual, but the bodies so cumbered the deck, 
that it was found necessary to remove the fastenings and to 
pass them below. The effect continued but a moment, when 
the ship resumed her fire as gallantly as ever. Among the 
slain, was Mr. Peter Gamble, the first lieutenant. By this 
early loss, but one officer of that rank, Acting Lieutenant La- 
vallette, was left in the Saratoga. Shortly after, Captain 
Downie, the English commanding officer, fell also. 

On the part of the principal vessels, the battle now became 
a steady, animated, but as guns were injured, a gradually de- 
creasing cannonade. Still the character of the battle was 
relieved by several little incidents that merit notice. The 
Chubb, while manoeuvring near the head of the American line, 
received a broadside from the Eagle that crippled her, and she 
drifted down between the opposing vessels, until near the Sa- 
ratoga, which ship fired a shot into her, and she immediately 
struck. Mr. Piatt, one of the Saratoga's midshipmen, was 
sent with a boat to take possession. This young officer threw 
the prize a line, and towed her down astern of the Saratoga, 
and in-shore, anchoring her near the mouth of the Saranac. 
This little success occurred within a quarter of an hour after 
the enemy had anchored, and was considered a favourable 
omen, though all well knew that on the Confiance alone de- 
pended the fate of the day. The Chubb had suffered ma- 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 411 

terially, nearly half of her people having been killed and 
wounded. 

About an hour later, the Finch was also driven out of her 
berth, by the Ticonderoga ; and being crippled, she drifted 
down upon Crab Island Shoal, where, receiving a shot or two 
from the gun mounted in the battery, she struck, and was 
taken possession of by the invalids belonging to the hospital. 
At this end of the line, the British galleys early made several 
desperate efforts to close ; and soon after the Finch had drifted 
away, they forced the Preble out of the American line, that 
vessel cutting her cable, and shifting her anchorage to a sta- 
tion considerably in-shore, where she was of no more service 
throughout the day. The rear of the American line was cer- 
tainly its weakest point ; and having compelled the little Preble 
to retreat, the enemy's galleys were emboldened to renew their 
efforts against the vessel ahead of her, which was the Ticon- 
deroga. This schooner was better able to resist them, and she 
was very nobly fought. Her spirited commander, Lieutenant 
Commandant Cassin, walked the taffrail, where he could watch 
the movements of the enemy's galleys, amidst showers of can- 
ister and grape, directing discharges of bags of musket-balls, 
and other light missiles, effectually keeping the British at bay. 
Several times the English galleys, of which many were very 
gallantly fought, closed quite near, with an intent to board ; 
but the great steadiness on board the Ticonderoga beat them 
back, and completely covered the rear of the line for the re- 
mainder of the day. So desperate were some of the assaults, 
notwithstanding, that the galleys have been described as seve- 
ral times getting nearly within a boat-hook's length of the 
schooner, and their people as rising from the sweeps in readi- 
ness to spring. 

While these reverses and successes were occurring in the 
rear of the two lines, the Americans were suffering heavily at 
the other extremity. The Linnet had got a very commanding 
position, and she was admirably fought ; while the Eagle, 
which received all her fire, and part of that of the Confiance, 
having lost her springs, found herself so situated, as not to be 
able to bring her guns fairly to bear on either of the enemy's 
vessels. Captain Henley had run his topsail-yards, with the 
sails stopped, to the mast-heads, previously to engaging, and 
he now cut his cable, sheeted home his topsails, cast the brig, 
and running down, anchored by the stern, between the Sara- 
toga and Ticonderoga, necessarily a little in-shore of both. 



412 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

Here he opened afresh, and with better effect, on the Confiance 
and galleys, using his larboard guns. But this movement left 
the Saratoga exposed to nearly the whole fire of the Linnet, 
which brig now sprung her broadside in a manner to rake the 
American ship on her bows. 

Shortly after this important change had occurred at the 
head of the lines, the fire of the two ships began materially to 
lessen, as gun after gun became disabled ; the Saratoga, in 
particular, having had all her long pieces rendered useless by 
shot, while most of the carronades were dismounted, either in 
the same manner, or in consequence of a disposition in the 
men to overcharge them. At length but a single carronade 
remained in the starboard batteries, and on firing it, the navel - 
bolt broke, the gun flew off the carriage, and it actually fell 
down the main hatch. By this accident, the American com- 
manding vessel was left in the middle of the battle, without a 
single available gun. Nothing remained, but to make an im- 
mediate attempt to wind the ship. 

The stream anchor suspended astern, was let go according- 
ly. The men then clapped on the hawser that led to the star- 
board quarter, and brought the ship's stern up over the kedge ; 
but here she hung, there not being sufficient wind, or current, 
to force her bows round. A line had been bent to a bight in 
the stream cable, with a view to help wind the ship, and she 
now rode by the kedge and this line, with her stern under the 
raking broadside of the Linnet, which brig kept up a steady 
and well-directed fire. The larboard batteries having been 
manned and got ready, Captain M'Donough ordered all the 
men from the guns, where they were uselessly suffering, telling 
them to go forward. By rowsing on the line, the ship was at 
length got so far round, that the aftermost gun would bear on the 
Confiance, when it was instantly manned, and began to play. 
The next gun was used in the same manner, but it was soon 
apparent that the ship could be got no farther round,, for she 
was now nearly end-on to the wind. At this critical moment, 
Mr. Brum, the master, bethought him of the hawser that had 
led to the larboard quarter. It was got forward under the 
bows, and passed aft to the starboard quarter, when the ship's 
stern was immediately sprung to the westward, so as to bring 
all her larboard guns to bear on the English ship, with fatal 
effect. 

As soon as the preparations were made to wind the Sara- 
toga, the Confiance attempted to perform the same evolution. 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 413 

Her springs were hauled on, but they merely forced the ship 
ahead, and having borne the fresh broadside of the Americans, 
until she had scarcely a gun with which to return the fire, and 
failing in all her efforts to get round, about two hours and a 
quarter after the commencement of the action, her command- 
ing officer lowered his flag. By hauling again upon the star- 
board hawser, the Saratoga's broadside was immediately sprung 
to bear on the Linnet, which brig struck about fifteen minutes 
after her consort. The enemy's galleys had been driven back, 
nearly or quite half a mile, and they lay irregularly scattered, 
and setting to leeward, keeping up a desultory firing. As soon 
as they found that the large vessels had submitted, they ceased 
the combat, and lowered their colours. At this proud moment, 
it is believed, on authority entitled to the highest respect, there 
was not a single English ensign, out of sixteen or seventeen, 
that had so lately been flying, left abroad in the bay ! 

In this long and bloody conflict, the Saratoga had 28 men 
killed, and 29 wounded, or more than a fourth of all on board 
her; the Eagle 13 killed, and 20 wounded, which was sus- 
taining a loss in nearly an equal proportion ; the Ticonderoga 
6 killed, and 6 wounded ; the Preble 2 killed ; while on board 
the 10 galleys, only 3 were killed, and 3 wounded. The 
Saratoga was hulled fifty-five times, principally by twenty- 
four-pound shot ; and the Eagle, thirty-nine times. 

According to the report of Captain Pring, of the Linnet, 
dated on the 12th of September, the Confiance lost 41 killed, 
and 40 wounded. It was admitted, however, that no good 
opportunity had then existed to ascertain the casualties. At a 
later day, the English themselves enumerated her wounded at 
83. This would make the total loss of that ship 124 ; but 
even this number is supposed to be materially short of the truth. 
The Linnet is reported to have had 10 killed, and 14 wounded. 
This loss is also believed to be considerably below the fact. 
The Chubb had 6 killed, and 10 wounded. The Finch was 
reported by the enemy, to have had but 2 men wounded. No 
American official report of the casualties in the English vessels 
has been published ; but by an estimate made on the best data 
that could be found, the Linnet was thought to have lost 50 
men, and the two smaller vessels taken, about 30 between 
them. No account whatever has been published of the casual- 
ties on board the English galleys, though the slaughter in them 
is believed to have been very heavy. 

As soon as the Linnet struck, a lieutenant was sent to take 
35* 



414 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

possession of the Confiance. Bad as was the situation of the 
Saratoga, that of this prize was much worse. She had been 
hulled 105 times; had probably near, if not quite, half her 
people killed and wounded ; and this formidable floating bat- 
tery was reduced to helpless impotency. 

As the boarding officer was passing along the deck of the 
prize, he accidentally ran against a lock-string, and fired one 
of the Confiance's starboard guns. Up to this moment, the 
English galleys had been slowly drifting to leeward, with their 
colours down, apparently waiting to be taken possession of; 
but at the discharge of this gun, which may have been under- 
stood as a signal, one or two of them began to move slowly 
off, and soon after the others followed, pulling but a very few 
sweeps. It is not known that one of them hoisted her ensign. 
Captain M'Donough made a signal for the American galleys 
to follow, but it was discovered that their men were wanted 
at the pumps of some of the larger vessels, to keep them from 
sinking, the water being found over the berth-deck of the Lin- 
net; and the signal was revoked. As there was not a mast 
that would bear any canvass among all the larger vessels, the 
English galleys escaped, though they went off slowly and ir- 
regularly, as if distrusting their own liberty. 

Captain M'Donough applauded the conduct of all the offi- 
cers of the Saratoga. Mr. Gamble died at his post, fighting 
bravely ; Mr. Lavallette, the only lieutenant left, displayed the 
cool discretion that marks the character of this highly respect- 
able and firm officer ; and Mr. Brum, the master, who was en- 
trusted with the important duty of winding the ship, never lost 
his self-possession for an instant. Captain Henley praised the 
conduct of his officers, as did Lieutenant Commandant Cassin. 
The galleys behaved very unequally ; but the Borer, Mr. Con- 
over ;* Netley, Mr. Breese ; j" one under the orders of Mr. 
Robins, a master, and one or two more, were considered to 
have been very gallantly handled. 

There was a common feeling of admiration at the manner 
in which the Ticonderoga, Lieutenant Commandant Cassin, 
defended the rear of the line, and at the noble conduct of all 
on board her. 

The Saratoga was twice on fire by hot shot thrown from 
the Confiance, her spanker having been nearly consumed. No 
battery from the American shore, with the exception of the 

* Now Commander Conover. t Now Capt. Breese. 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 415 

gun or two fired at the Finch from Crab Island, took any part 
in the naval encounter ; nor could any, without endangering 
the American vessels equally with the enemy. Indeed the 
distance renders it questionable whether shot would have 
reached with eifect, as Captain M'Donough had anchored far 
off the land, in order to compel the enemy to come within 
range of his short guns. 

The Americans found a furnace on board the Confiance, 
with eight or ten heated shot in it, though the fact is not stated 
with any view to attribute it to the enemy as a fault. It was 
an advantage that he possessed, most probably, in consequence 
of the presence of a party of artillerists. 

Captain M'Donough, who was already very favourably 
known to the service for his personal intrepidity, obtained a 
vast accession of reputation by the results of this day. His 
dispositions for receiving the attacks, were highly judicious and 
seaman-like. By the manner in which he anchored his ves- 
sels, with the shoal so near the rear of his line as to cover 
that extremity, and the land of Cumberland Head so near his 
bi'oadside as necessarily to bring the enemy within reach of 
his short guns, he made all his force completely available. 
The English were not near enough, perhaps, to give to carron- 
ades their full effect ; l>ut this disadvantage was unavoidable, 
the assailing party having, of course, a choice in the distance. 
All that could be obtained, under the circumstances, appears 
to have been secured, and the result proved the wisdom of the 
actual arrangement. The personal deportment of Captain 
M'Donough in this engagement, like that of Captain Perry 
in the battle of Lake Erie, was the subject of general admira- 
tion in his little squadron. His coolness was undisturbed 
throughout all the trying scenes on board his own ship, and 
although lying against a vessel of double the force, and nearly 
double the tonnage of the Saratoga, he met and resisted her 
attack with a constancy that seemed to set defeat at defiance. 
The winding of the Saratoga, under such circumstances, ex- 
posed as she was to the raking broadsides of the Confiance 
and Linnet, especially the latter, was a bold, seaman-like, and 
masterly measure, that required unusual decision and fortitude 
to imagine and execute. Most men would have believed that, 
without a single gun on the side engaged, a fourth of their peo- 
ple cut down, and their ship a wreck, enough injury had been 
received to justify submission ; but Captain M'Donough found 



416 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

the means to secure a victory in the desperate condition of his 
own vessel. 

The deportment of Lieutenant Commandant Cassin* was 
also the subject of general applause in the American squadron. 

Although many of the American officers were wounded, only 
two that belonged to the quarterdeck were killed. These were 
Mr. Gamble, the first lieutenant of the Saratoga, and Mr. Stans- 
bury, the first lieutenant of the Ticonderoga.f Mr. Smithy a 
very valuable officer, and the first lieutenant of the Eagle, re- 
ceived a severe wound, but returned to his quarters during the 
action. On the part of the enemy, besides Captain Downie, 
several officers were killed, and three or four were wounded. 

Captain M'Donough, besides the usual medal from Congress, 
and various compliments and gifts from different states and 

* Now Commodore Cassin. 

t The manner in which Mr. Gamble met his death, has been mention- 
ed. Mr. Stansbury suddenly disappeared from the bulwarks forward, 
while superintending some duty with the springs. Two days after the 
action, his body rose to the surface of the water, near the vessel to which 
he had belonged, and it was found that it had been cut in two by a round 
shot. Both these gentlemen showed great coolness and spirit, until they 
fell. Many officers were knocked down in the engagement, without having 
blood drawn. At one moment, there was a cry in the Saratoga that Cap- 
tain M'Donough, or as he was usually called, the commodore, was killed. 
He was thrown on his face, on the quarter deck, nearly if not quite sense- 
less, and it was two or three minutes before he came to his recollection. 
He pointed a favourite gun most of the action, and while standing in the 
middle of the deck bending his body to sight it, a shot had cut in two the 
spanker-boom, letting the spar fall on his back, a blow that might easily 
have proved fatal. A few minutes after this accident, the cry that the 
commodore was killed was heard again. This time, Captain M'Donough 
was lying on the off-side of the deck, between two of the guns, covered 
with blood, and again nearly senseless. A shot had driven the head of 
the captain of his favourite gun in upon him, and knocked him into the 
scuppers. Mr. Brum the master, a venerable old seaman, while winding 
the ship, had a large splinter driven so near his body, as actually to strip 
off his clothes. For a minute he was thought to be dead, but, on gaining 
his feet, he made an apron of his pocket handkerchief, and coolly went to 
work again with the springs ! A few months later this veteran died, as is 
thought of the injur}'. Mr. Lavallette had a shot-box, on which he was 
standing, knocked from under his feet, and he too, was once knocked 
down by the head of a seaman. He also received a severe splinter wound, 
though not reported. In short, very few escaped altogether ; and in this 
desperate fight, it appears to have been agreed on both sides, to call no man 
wounded who could keep out of the hospital. Many who were not in- 
cluded among the wounded, feel the effects of their hurts to this day. It 
is said, that scarecly an individual escaped on board of either the Confiance 
or Saratoga, without some injury. 

I Now Captain Smith. 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 417 

towns, was promoted for his services. Captain Henley also 
received a medal. The legislature of Vermont presented the 
former with a small estate on Cumberland Head, which over- 
looked the scene of his triumph. The officers and crews met 
with the customary acknowledgments, and the country ge- 
nerally placed the victory by the side of that of Lake Erie. In 
the navy, which is better qualified to enter into just estimates 
of force, and all the other circumstances that enhance the me- 
rits of nautical exploits, the battle of Plattsburg Bay is justly 
ranked among the very highest of its claims to glory. 

The consequences of this victory were immediate and im- 
portant. During the action, Sir George Prevost had skir- 
mished sharply in front of the American works, and was busy 
in making demonstrations for a more serious attack. As soon, 
however, as the fate of the British squadron was ascertained, 
he made a precipitate and unmilitary retreat, abandoning much 
of his heavy artillery, stores, and supplies, and from that mo- 
ment to the end of the war, the northern frontier was cleared 
of the enemy. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 

After the success of Captain Perry on Lake Erie, the En- 
glish made no serious effort to recover the ascendency on the 
upper waters. During the winter of 1813-14, they are be- 
lieved to have contemplated an attempt against a portion of the 
American vessels, which were lying in Put-in Bay, but the en- 
terprise was abandoned. When Commodore Sinclair hoisted 
his pennant, as commander on this station, an expedition sailed 
against Michilimackinac, which was repulsed. He made some 
captures of vessels belonging to the Northwest Company, blew 
up a block-house in the Nautauwassauga, and compelled the 
enemy to destroy a schooner, called the Nancy, commanded 
by Lieutenant Worsley. 

While these movements were in the course of occurrence on 
Lakes Superior and Huron, several of the small vessels were 
kept at the foot of Lake Erie, to co-operate with the army then 
besieged in the fort of the same name. On the night of the 



4] S NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

12th of August, the Somers, Ohio, and Porcupine, all of which 
were under Lieutenant Conklin, were anchored just at the out- 
let of the lake, to cover the left flank of the American works. 
The enemy brought up a party of seamen from below, with a 
view to cut them off, and about midnight he made an attack, 
under Captain Dobbs, in six or eight boats, most of which were 
large batteaux. The Ohio and Somers were surprised, the 
last being captured without any resistance, but the Porcupine 
taking the alarm, easily effected her escape. The enemy 
drifted down the rapids with their two prizes, and secured them 
below. 

In this sudden and handsome affair, the Americans had 1 
man killed and 10 wounded. The enemy lost about the same 
number, by the resistance on board the Ohio, among whom 
was Lieutenant Radclifle, of the Netley, slain. The Porcu- 
pine had no part in the action. This surprise was the result 
of excess of confidence, it being thought that the enemy had 
no force on Lake Erie with which to make such an attack. 
The manner in which the men and boats were brought up from 
Lake Ontario, for this purpose, and the neatness with which 
the enterprise was executed, reflected great credit on the 
enemy. 

Nor was this the only successful attempt of the same nature, 
made by the English on the upper lakes, during this season. 
Lieutenant Worsley, the officer who commanded the schooner 
destroyed by Commodore Sinclair, had escaped with all his 
men, and obtaining a party of soldiers from Michilimackinac, 
and a strong body of Indians, he planned a surprise upon the 
Tigress and Scorpion, two schooners that had been left in 
Lake Huron after the repulse on the post just mentioned. The 
Tigress mounted a twenty-four, had a crew of 28 men, officers 
included, and was commanded by Mr. Champlin. She was 
lying at St. Joseph's, on the night of the 3d of September, 
when Mr. Worsley made his attack in five large boats, one of 
which mounted a six, and another a three-pounder, accompa- 
nied by nineteen canoes, containing more than 200 men. The 
night was so dark that the enemy got very near before they 
were discovered, but Mr. Champlin* and his officers made a 
very gallant resistance. The schoooner was not captured 
until all her officers had been shot down. The guns of the 
enemy were transferred to the Tigress, and while she still con- 



*Now Commander Champlin. 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 419 

tinued in her berth, the evening of the next day, the Scorpion, 
Lieutenant Turner, which had been cruising, came in and an- 
chored about five miles from her. Neither vessel had sig- 
nals, and there was no attempt to communicate that night. 
The next morning, at daylight, the Tigress was seen standing 
down towards the Scorpion, with American colours flying, and 
there not being the slightest apparent motive to suspect her 
change of character, she was permittted to come alongside^ 
when she fired all her guns, ran the Scorpion aboard, and 
carried her without difficulty. This surprise was wholly 
attributed to the want of signals, and Mr. Turner was honour- 
ably acquitted for the loss of his vessels. In carrying the 
Tigress, the enemy had a lieutenant and 2 men killed, and 7 
men wounded. On board the Tigress 3 men were killed, and 
all the officers and 3 seamen were wounded. The Scorpion, 
being surprised, made but a trifling resistance. 

These little captures, which were very creditable to the 
enterprise of the enemy, terminated the war on the upper lakes, 
the vessels being shortly after laid up. During the winter of 
1814-15 both belligerents were building, the enemy having 
laid down a second two-decker at Kingston, while the Ameri- 
cans prepared to build two at the Harbour. Mr. Eckford 
engaged to put into the water two ships, to carry 102 guns 
each, within sixty days from the time he commenced, the tim- 
ber then standing in the forest. The order was given, and 
the work commenced in January. The news that a treaty of 
peace had been signed, was received when the work on one of 
these vessels, called the New Orleans, had been commenced 
but twenty-nine days. She was then nearly planked in, and 
it was thought would have been in the water in twenty-seven 
days more. The second vessel was but little behind her, and 
there is no doubt that Commodore Chauncey would have taken 
the lake, as soon as the navigation opened, with a force con- 
sisting of 2 sail of the line, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes, 4 brigs, and 
as many small craft as the service could possibly have required. 
As the enemy had received the frames of one or two frigates 
from England, and had already begun to set them up, it is 
probable that a frigate would have been added to this force, 
by building her of the timber found too small for the heavier 
ships. 

The peace put a stop to the strife in ship-building, and ter- 
minated the war on the lakes. In this inland contest, while 
the enemy had been active, bold, and full of resources, impar- 



420 NAVAL HISTORY. [1814. 

tial judges must award the palm to the Americans. On the 
upper lakes and on Champlain, the English had sought gene- 
ral actions, and decisive victories placed the republic in nearly 
undisputed command of those waters. The important results 
that had been expected, fully rewarded this success. On Lake 
Ontario, the English pursued a different policy, cautiously 
avoiding any conflict that might prove final, unless under cir- 
cumstances that would ensure victory. 

On Lake Champlain the enemy captured in the course of 
the war, the Eagle and Growler, by means of their army. 
These two vessels were subsequently retaken, under the names 
of the Chubb and the Finch, and the whole English force was 
defeated. On Lake Erie, the success of the enemy was limited 
to the surprise of the four schooners mentioned in this chapter ; 
while they lost equally by surprise, the Detroit and Caledonia, 
their whole squadron in action, and a schooner on Lake Huron 
blown up. On Lake Ontario, the success of the enemy was 
limited to the capture of the Julia and Growler, in the affair 
of the 10th of August, and the re-capture of the latter vessel 
at Oswego. On no other occasion, with the exception of the 
gig of Mr. Gregory, and one boat carrying a gun and two 
cables, did any man, or thing, belonging to the navy fall into 
his hands. He made one exceedingly impotent attack on the 
Harbour, (previously to the arrival of Commodore Yeo,) was 
beaten in a subsequent attempt on the same place, succeeded 
in taking Oswego, and committed some ravages at Sodus, and 
at the mouth of the Genesee. For a few days he also co-ope- 
rated with his army. On the part of the Americans, a spirited 
attack was made on Kingston in 1812 ; York was twice cap- 
tured in 1813, as was Fort George once; a brig was brought 
off from York, and a vessel of 20 guns burned at the same 
place ; another of 14 guns at Presque Isle ; a third was driven 
ashore, and blown up, to the westward of Niagara ; six gun- 
vessels and three gun-boats, and many smaller craft were cap- 
tured ; and, at different times, two captains, many other offi- 
cers, and several hundred seamen and marines were taken. 
Kingston was often long and closely blockaded, and, with short 
and few exceptions, the Americans had the command of the 
lake. The greater age of the English frontier, as a settled 
country, gave the enemy material advantages, of which he 
fully availed himself. 

No officer of the American navy ever filled a station of the 
responsibility and importance of that which Commodore Chaun- 



1814.] NAVAL HISTORY. 421 

cey occupied ; and it may be justly questioned if any officer 
could have acquitted himself better, of the high trust that had 
been reposed in him. He commanded the profound respect of 
the vigilant, bold, and skilful commander to whom he was 
opposed, and to the last, retained the entire confidence of his 
own government. 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 

When Commodore Bainbridge gave up the command of the 
Constitution 44, in 1813, that ship was found to be so decayed 
as to require extensive repairs. Her crew was principally sent 
upon the lakes, a new one entered, and the command of her 
was given to Captain Charles Stewart. The ship, however, 
was not able to get to sea until the winter of 1814, when she 
made a cruise to the southward, passing down the coast, and 
running through the West Indies, on her way home, where she 
fell in with La Pique 36, which ship made her escape by go- 
ing through the Mona passage in the night. Previously to her 
return the Constitution captured the Pictou 14, a man-of-war 
schooner of the enemy. Reaching the American coast, she 
was chased into Marblehead by two English frigates, the Ju- 
non and Tenedos. Shortly after she went to Boston. In this 
cruise, the Constitution made a few prizes, in addition to the 
schooner. 

On the 17th of December, the Constitution again left Bos- 
ton, and ran off Bermuda ; thence to the vicinity of Madeira, 
and into the Bay of Biscay. After this, she cruised some time 
in sight of the Rock of Lisbon, making two prizes, one of 
which was destroyed, and the other sent in. While in the vi- 
cinity of Lisbon, she made a large ship and gave chase, but 
before her courses were raised, one of the prizes just mention- 
ed, was fallen in with, and while securing it, the strange sail 
disappeared. This vessel is understood to have been the Eli- 
zabeth 74, which, on her arrival at Lisbon, hearing that the 
Constitution was off the coast, immediately came out in pur- 
suit of her ; but Captain Stewart had stood to the southward 
and westward, in quest of an enemy said to be in that direction, 
36 



422 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

On the morning of the 20th of February, the wind blowing 
a light Levanter, finding nothing where he was, Captain Stew- 
art ordered the helm put up, and the ship ran off southwest, 
varying her position, in that direction, fifty or sixty miles. At 
1 P. M., a stranger was seen on the larboard bow, when the 
ship hauled up two or three points, and made sail in chase. 
In about twenty minutes the stranger was made out to be a 
ship ; and half an hour later, a second vessel was seen farther 
to leeward, which at two was also ascertained to be a ship. 
The Constitution kept standing on, all three vessels on bow- 
lines, until four, when the nearest of the strangers made a 
signal to the ship to leeward, and shortly after he kept away 
and ran down towards his consort, then about three leagues 
under his lee. The Constitution immediately squared away, 
and set her studding-sails, alow and aloft. No doubt was now 
entertained of the strangers being enemies ; the nearest ship 
having the appearance of a small frigate, and the vessel to 
leeward that of a large sloop of war. The first was carrying 
studding-sails on both sides, while the last was running off 
under short canvass, to allow her consort to close. Captain 
Stewart believed it was their intention to keep away, on their 
best mode of sailing, until night, in the hope of escaping ; and 
he crowded every thing that would draw, with a view to get 
the nearest vessel under his guns. About half-past four, the 
spar proving defective, the main royal-mast was carried away, 
and the chase gained. A few guns were now fired, but find- 
ing that the shot fell short, the attempt to cripple the stranger 
was abandoned. 

Perceiving, at half-past five, that it was impossible to pre- 
vent the enemy from effecting a junction, the Constitution, 
then a little more than a league distant from the farthest ship, 
cleared for action. Ten minutes later, the two chases passed 
within hail of each other, came by the wind with their heads 
to the northward, hauled up their courses, and were evidently 
clearing to engage. In a few minutes both ships suddenly 
made sail, close by the wind, in order to weather upon the 
American frigate, but perceiving that the latter was closing too 
fast, they again hauled up their courses, and formed on the 
wind, the smallest ship ahead. 

At 6 P. M., the Constitution had the enemy completely un- 
der her guns, and she showed her ensign. The strangers an- 
swered this defiance, by setting English colours, and five min- 
utes later, the American ship ranged up abeam of the stern- 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 423 

most vessel, at the distance of a cable's length, passing ahead 
with her sails lifting, until the three ships formed nearly an 
equilateral triangle, the Constitution to windward. In this 
masterly position the action commenced, the three vessels keep- 
ing up a hot and unceasing fire for about a quarter of an hour, 
when that of the enemy sensibly slackened. The sea being 
covered with an immense cloud of smoke, and it being now 
moonlight, Captain Stewart ordered the cannonading to cease. 
In three minutes the smoke had blown away, when the lead- 
ing ship of the enemy was seen under the. lee-beam of the 
Constitution, while the sternmost was luffing, as if she intend- 
ed to tack and cross her wake. Giving a broadside to the 
ship abreast of her, the American frigate threw her main and 
mizzen-topsails with topgallant-sails set, flat aback, shook all 
forward, let fly her jib-sheet, and backed swiftly astern, com- 
pelling the enemy to fill again to avoid being raked. The 
leading ship now attempted to tack, to cross the Constitution's 
fore-foot, when the latter filled, boarded her fore-tack, shot 
ahead, forced her antagonist to ware under a raking broadside- 
and to run off to leeward to escape from the weight of her 
fire. 

The Constitution perceiving that the largest ship was war- 
ing also, wore on her keel, and crossing her stern, raked her 
with effect, though the enemy came by the wind immediately, 
and delivered his larboard broadside ; but as the Constitution 
ranged up close on his weather quarter, he struck. Mr. Hoff- 
man, the second lieutenant of the Constitution, was immedi- 
ately sent to take possession ; the prize proving to be the Brit- 
ish ship Cyane 24, Captain Falcon. 

In the mean time, the ship that had run to leeward had been 
forced out of the combat by the crippled condition of her run- 
ning rigging, and to avoid the weight of the Constitution's fire. 
She was ignorant of the fate of the Cyane, but at the end of 
about an hour, having repaired damages, she hauled up, and 
met the Constitution coming down in quest of her. It was 
near nine before the two ships crossed each other on opposite 
tacks, the Constitution to windward, and exchanged broad- 
sides. The English ship finding her antagonist too heavy, 
immediately bore up, in doing which she got a raking dis- 
charge, when the Constitution boarded fore-tack and made sail, 
keeping up a most effective chasing fire, from her two bow 
guns, nearly every shot of which told. The two ships were 
so near each other, that the ripping of the enemy's planks was 



424 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

heard on board the American frigate. The former was una- 
ble to support this long, and at 10 P. M. he came by the wind, 
fired a gun to leeward, and lowered his ensign. Mr. W. B. 
Shubrick, the third lieutenant, was sent on board to take pos- 
session, when it was found that the prize was the Levant 18, 
the Honoui'able Captain Douglas. 

During this cruise, the Constitution mounted 52 guns ; and 
she had a complement of about 470 men, all told ; a few of 
whom were absent in a prize. The Cyane was a frigate-built 
ship, that properly rated 24 guns, though she appeared as only 
a 20 in Steele's list, mounting 22 thirty-two-pound carronades 
on her gun-deck, and 10 eighteen-pound carronades, with two 
chase guns, on her quarterdeck and forecastle ; making 34 in 
all. The Levant was a new ship, rating 18, and mounting 18 
thirty-two-pound carronades, a shifting eighteen on her topgal- 
lant forecastle, and two chase guns ; or 21 in all. There were 
found in the Cyane, 168 prisoners, of whom 26 were wounded. 
The precise number slain on board her is not known ; Captain 
Stewart, probably judging from an examination of the muster- 
Dook, computing it at 12, while the accounts given bythe Eng- 
lish publications differ, some putting the killed at only 4 and 
others at 6. It was probably between the two estimates. Her 
regular crew was about 185, all told ; and there is no reason 
to believe that it was not nearly, if not absolutely full. Cap- 
tain Stewart supposes it to have been 180 in the action, which 
was probably about the truth. The Levant's regular comple- 
ment is said to have been 130, all told; but it appears by a 
statement published in Barbadoes, where some of her officers 
shortly after went, that there were a good many supernumera- 
ries in the two vessels, who were going to the Western Islands, 
to bring away a ship that was building there. Captain Stew- 
art supposes the Levant to have had 156 men in the action, 
of whom he believed 23 to have been killed, and 16 wounded. 
The first estimate may have been too high, though the truth 
can probably never be known. It is believed that no English 
official account of this action has ever been published, but the 
Barbadoes statement makes the joint loss of the two ships, 10 
killed, and 28 wounded ; other English accounts raise it as 
high as 41 in all. It may have been a little less than the esti- 
mate of Captain Stewart, (although his account of the wounded 
must have been accurate,) but was probably considerably more 
than that of the English statements. The Constitution had 3 
killed, and 12 wounded, or she sustained a total loss of 15 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 425 

men. By 1 A. M., of the 21st, she was ready for another 
action. Although it was more than three hours and a half, 
from the time this combat commenced, before the Levant 
struck, the actual fighting did not occupy three-quarters of an 
hour. For a night action, the execution on both sides was 
unusual, the enemy firing much better than common. The 
Constitution was hulled oftener in this engagement, than in 
both her previous battles, though she suffered less in her crew, 
than in the combat with the Java. She had not an officer 
hurt. 

The manner in which Captain Stewart handled his ship, on 
this occasion, excited much admiration among nautical men, 
it being an unusual thing for a single vessel to engage two 
enemies, and escape being raked. So far from this occurring 
to the Constitution, however, she actually raked both her op- 
ponents, and the manner in which she backed and filled in the 
smoke, forcing her two antagonists down to leeward, when 
they were endeavouring to cross her stern or fore-foot, is among 
the most brilliant manoeuvring in naval annals. 

It is due to a gallant enemy to say, that Captain Douglas 
commanded the respect of the Americans, by his intrepid per- 
severance in standing by his consort. Although the attempt 
might not have succeeded, the time necessarily lost in securing 
the Cyane, gave him an opportunity to endeavour to escape, 
that he nobly refused to improve. 

Captain Stewart proceeded with his two prizes to Port Praya, 
where he arrived on the 10th of March. Here a vessel was 
engaged as a cartel, and more than a hundred of the prisoners 
were landed with a view to help fit her for sea. Saturday, 
March 11th, 1815, a little after meridian, while the cutter was 
absent to bring the cartel under the stern of the frigate, the 
sea was covered with a heavy fog, near the water, and there 
was a good deal of haze above, but in the latter, the sails of a 
large ship were visible. She was on a wind, looking in-shore, 
and evidently stretching towards the roads. The first lieu- 
tenant, Mr. Shubrick, reported the circumstance to Captain 
Stewart. This officer believing that the strange sail would 
prove to be an English frigate or an Indiaman, directed the 
lieutenant to return on deck, call all hands, and get ready to 
go out and attack her. As soon as this order was given, the 
officer took a new look at the stranger, when he discovered 
the canvass of two other ships rising above the bank of fog, 
in the same direction. These vessels were evidently heavy 
36* 



426 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

men-of-war, and Captain Stewart was immediately apprised of 
the fresh discovery. That prompt and decided officer did not 
hesitate an instant concerning the course he ought to take. 
Well knowing that the English would disregard the neutrality 
of any port that had not sufficient force to resist them, or 
which did not belong to a nation they were obliged to respect, 
he immediately made a signal for the prizes to follow, and or- 
dered the Constitution's cable to be cut. In 10 minutes after 
this order was issued, and in 14 after the first ship had been 
seen, the American frigate was standing out of the roads, 
under her three topsails. 

The cool and officer-like manner in which sail was made 
and the ship cast, on this occasion, has been much extolled, 
not an instant having been lost by hurry or confusion. The 
prizes followed with promptitude. The northeast trades were 
blowing, and the three vessels passed out to sea about gun-shot 
to windward of the hostile squadron, just clearing East Point. 
As the Constitution cleared the land, she crossed topgallant- 
yards, boarded her tacks, and set all the light sails that would 
draw. The English prisoners on shore, took possession of a 
battery, and fired at her as she went out. As soon as the 
American ships had gained the weather beam of the enemy, 
the latter tacked, and the six vessels stood off to the south- 
ward and eastward, carrying every thing that would draw, and 
going about ten knots. 

The fog still lay so thick upon the water as to conceal the 
hulls of the strangers, but they were supposed to be two line- 
of-battle ships, and a large frigate, the vessel most astern and 
to leeward, being the commodore. The frigate weathered on 
all the American ships, gaining on the Levant and Cyane, but 
falling astern of the Constitution ; while the two larger vessels, 
on the latter's lee quarter, held way with her. As soon as 
clear of the land, the Constitution cut adrift two of her boats, 
the enemy pressing her too hard to allow of their being hoisted 
in. The Cyane was gradually dropping astern and to leeward, 
rendering it certain, if she stood on, that the most weatherly 
of the enemy's vessels would soon be alongside of her ; and 
at 10 minutes past one, Captain Stewart made a signal for her 
to tack. This order was obeyed by Mr. Hoffman, the prize- 
master ; and it was now expected that one of the enemy's 
ships would go about, and follow him ; a hope that was disap- 
pointed. The Cyane finding that she was not pursued, stood 
on until she was lost in the fog, when Mr. Hoffman tacked 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 427 

again, anticipating that the enemy might chase him to leeward. 
This prudent officer improved his advantage, by keeping to 
windward long enough to allow the enemy to get ahead, should 
they pursue him, when he squared away for America, arriving 
safely at New York on the 10th of April following. 

The three ships of the enemy continued to chase the Con- 
stitution and Levant. As the vessels left the land the fog less- 
ened, though it still lay so dense on the immediate surface of 
the ocean, as to leave Captain Stewart in doubt as to the force 
of his pursuers. The English officers on board the Constitu- 
tion affirmed that the vessel that was getting into her wake 
was the Acasta 40, Captain Kerr, a twenty-four-pounder ship, 
and it was thought that the three were a squadron that was 
cruising for the President, Peacock, and Hornet, consisting of 
the Leander 50, Sir George Collier, Newcastle 50, Lord George 
Stuart, and the Acasta ; the ships that they subsequently proved 
to be. The Newcastle was the vessel on the lee-quarter of the 
Constitution, and by half-past two the fog had got so low, that 
her officers were seen standing on the hammock-cloths, though 
the line of her ports was not visible. She now began to fire 
by divisions, and some opinion could be formed of her arma- 
ment, by the flashes of her guns, through the fog. Her shot 
struck the water within a hundred yards of the American ship, 
but did not rise again. By 3 P. M., the Levant had fallen so 
far astern, that she was in the very danger from which the 
Cyane had so lately been extricated, and Captain Stewart 
made her signal to tack also. Mr. Ballard immediately com- 
plied, and 7 minutes later the three English ships tacked, by 
signal, and chased the prize, leaving the Constitution standing 
on in a different direction, and going at the rate of eleven knots. 

Mr. Ballard finding the enemy bent on following the Levant, 
with the Acasta already to windward of his wake, ran back 
into Port Praya, and anchored, at 4 o'clock, within 150 yards 
of the shore, under a strong battery. The enemy's ships had 
commenced firing, as soon as it was seen that the Levant 
would gain the anchorage, and all three now opened on the 
prize. After bearing the fire for a considerable time, the 
colours of the Levant were hauled down. No one was hurt 
in the prize, Mr. Ballard causing his men to lie on the deck, as 
soon as the ship was anchored. The English prisoners in the 
battery, also fired at the Levant. 

Sir George Collier was much criticised for the course he 
pursued on this occasion. It was certainly a mistake to call 



428 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

off more than one ship to chase the Levant, though the position 
of the Leander in the fog, so far to leeward and astern, did not 
give the senior officer the best opportunities for observing the 
course of events. There was certainly every prospect of the 
Acasta's bringing the Constitution to action in the course of 
the night, though the other vessels might have been left so far 
astern, as still to render the result doubtful. 

Whatever may be thought of the management of the enemy, 
there can be but one opinion as to that of Captain Stewart. The 
promptitude with which he decided on his course, the judgment 
with which he ordered the prizes to vary their courses, and 
the steadiness with which the Constitution was commanded, 
aided in elevating a professional reputation that was already 
very high. 

This terminated the exploits of the gallant Constitution, or 
Old Ironsides, as she was affectionately called in the navy ; 
Captain Stewart, after landing his prisoners at Maranham, and 
learning at Porto Rico, that peace had been made, carried 
her into New York, about the middle of May. In the course 
of two years and nine months, this ship had been in three ac- 
tions, had been twice critically chased, and had captured five 
vessels of war, fvvo of which were frigates, and a third frigate- 
built. In all her service, as well before Tripoli, as in this war, 
her good fortune was remarkable. She never was dismasted, 
never got ashore, or scarcely ever suffered any of the usual 
accidents of the sea. Though so often in battle, no very seri- 
ous slaughter ever took place on board her. One of her com- 
manders was wounded, and four of her lieutenants had been 
killed ; two on her own decks, and two in the Intrepid ; but, on 
the whole, her entire career had been that of what is usually 
called a " lucky ship." Her fortune, however, may perhaps 
be explained in the simple fact, that she had always been well 
commanded. In her two last cruises she had probably pos- 
sessed as fine a crew as ever manned a frigate. They were 
principally New England men, and it has been said of them, 
that they were almost qualified to fight the ship without her 
officers. 



1814.J NAVAL HISTORY. 429 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

When Commodore Rodgers left the President, in the summer 
of 1814, to take command of the Guerriere, Commodore De- 
catur was transferred to the former ship ; the United States 
and Macedonian, then blockaded in the Thames, having been 
laid up, and the Hornet, Captain Biddle, left to protect them. 
This service was particularly irksome to an officer of the spirit 
of the last-named gentleman ; and persevering in his applica- 
tions to be released from it, he finally received an order to join 
Commodore Decatur at New York, where the President had 
been some time detained to make part of the defence of the 
port, while the enemy was committing his depredations on the 
coast, during the mild weather. No sooner did Captain Biddle 
receive this welcome command, than he took the first favour- 
able occasion to pass out, leaving the blockading squadron 
to the eastward, and ran down to New York. This was in 
the month of November, 1814, and Commodore Decatur had 
now a force consisting of the President 44, his own ship, Pea- 
cock 18, Captain Warrington, Hornet 18, Captain Biddle, and 
Tom Bowline store- vessel. His destination was the East 
Indies, where it was thought great havoc might be made with 
the valuable trade of the English. 

Owing to different causes, but principally to the wish of the 
government to keep a force at New York to resist the depre- 
dations of the enemy, Commodore Decatur did not get to sea 
until the middle of January, 1815. The President dropped 
down to Sandy Hook alone, leaving the other vessels lying at 
Staten Island, and on the night of the 14th, she made an at- 
tempt to cross the bar. In consequence of the darkness, the 
pilots missed the channel and the ship struck ; beating heavily 
on the sands, for an hour and a half. About 10 o'clock the 
tide had risen to its height, and she was forced into deep water. 
Although the vessel had received considerable injury, it was 
impossible to return, and a strong blockading force being in 
the offing, it became necessary to carry sail to get off the coast 
before morning. It had blown a gale the previous day, and 
Commodore Decatur, rightly judging that the enemy had been 
driven to leeward, decided to run along the land to the north- 



430 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

ward and eastward, as the best means of avoiding a greatly- 
superior force. This determination was judicious, and, had 
not the detention occurred on the bar, it would have been com- 
pletely successful. After running off in a northeastern direc- 
tion for about 5 hours, the course of the ship was altered to S. 
E. by E. Two hours later, a strange sail was discovered 
ahead, within gun-shot, and two others being soon after seen, 
the President hauled up and passed to the northward of them 
all. At daylight, four ships were seen in chase, one on each 
quarter and two astern. The nearest vessel was believed to 
be the Majectic rasee, which fired a broadside or two, in the 
hope of crippling the American frigate as she passed, but 
without effect. It is now known, that the enemy had been 
driven down to the southward by the gale, and that he was just 
returning to his station, when this unlucky encounter occurred. 

The chase continued throughout the forenoon, the wind 
becoming lighter and baffling. The rasee was dropped mate- 
rially, but the next nearest ship, the Endymion, 40, a twenty- 
four-pounder frigate, had closed, and as the President was 
very deep, being filled with stores for a long cruise, Commo- 
dore Decatur commenced lightening her. Unfortunately the 
commander, all the lieutenants, and the master were strangers, 
in one sense, to the ship ; most of them never having been at 
sea in her at all, and neither in any responsible situation. The 
duty of lightening a ship in chase, is one of the most delicate 
operations in seamanship, and it ought never to be attempted 
except by those perfectly acquainted with her lines, trim, and 
stowage. Half-a-dozen more water-casks emptied at one end 
of the vessel than at the other may injure her sailing ; and the 
utmost care is to be observed lest the indiscretion of inferiors 
in the hold, defeat the calculations of the commander on deck. 
On the other hand, Commodore Decatur decided to undertake 
this delicate operation under the most favourable circumstances 
that a want of familiarity with his ship would allow, as the 
wind was getting to be light, and was nearly aft. 

It is not certain, however, that the sailing of the President 
was injured by the process of lightening, for she is supposed 
to have suffered materially while on the bar, and the enemy ob- 
tained a material advantage by a change in the wind. While 
it was still light with the American ship, the British, about 3 
P. M., were bringing down with them a fresh breeze. Soon 
after, the Endymion, the nearest vessel, having got within 
reach of shot, opened with her bow guns, the President return- 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 431 

ing the fire with her stern-chasers. The object of each, was 
to cripple the spars of the other. It is said, that on this occa- 
sion, the shot of the American ship were observed to be thrown 
with a momentum so unusually small, as to have since excited 
a distrust of the quality of her powder. It is even added, that 
many of these shot were distinctly seen, when clear of the 
smoke, until they struck. 

By 5 P. M., the Endymion had got so far on the starboard, 
or lee quarter of the President, that no gun of the latter would 
bear on her without altering the course. The fire of the Eng- 
lish ship now became exceedingly annoying, for she was ma- 
terially within point-blank range, and every shot cut away 
something aloft. Still it was borne, in the hope that she would 
range up alongside, and give the President an opportunity of 
laying her aboard. Finding, however, that the enemy warily 
kept his position by yawing, in the hope of gradually crippling 
the American ship, Commodore Decatur decided on a course 
that singularly partook of the daring chivalry of his character. 

It was now evident that the sailing of the President was 
much impaired by some cause or other ; either by injuries re- 
ceived on the bar, or by the manner in which she had been 
lightened, and escape by flight had become nearly hopeless. 
Commodore Decatur, therefore, decided to make an effort to 
exchange ships, by carrying the Endymion, hand to hand, 
and to go off in the prize, abandoning his own vessel to the 
enemy. With this object in view, he determined to keep away, 
lay the enemy aboard if possible, and put every thing on the 
success of the experiment. The plan was communicated to 
the people, who received it cheerfully, and just at dusk, the 
helm of the President was put up, bringing the wind over the 
taffrail, the ship heading south. But she was so closely 
watched, that the Endymion kept away at the same moment, 
and the two ships soon came abeam of each other, when both 
delivered their broadsides. All the President's attempts to 
close, were defeated, for the vessels were about a quarter of a 
mile apart, and as she hauled nearer to the enemy, the latter 
sheered away from her. Without a superiority in sailing, it 
was impossible for Commodore Decatur to get any nearer, and 
he was now reduced to the necessity of attempting to get rid 
of the Endymion by dismantling her. The two frigates, con- 
sequently continued running off dead before the wind, keeping 
up a heavy cannonade for two hours and a half, when the 
enemy's vessel was so far injured that she fell astern, most of 



432 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

her sails having been cut from the yards. The President, at 
this moment, was under her royal studding-sails, and there is 
no doubt, by choosing her position, she might easily have com- 
pelled her adversary to strike ; but, by this time, though the 
night was dark, the vessels astern were in sight, and she was 
obliged to resume her original course to avoid them. In doing 
this, the President hauled up under the broadside of her late 
antagonist, without receiving any fire to injure her. 

It was now half-past eight, and the President continued to 
run off southeast, repairing damages, but it was found impossi- 
ble to prevent the other vessels of the enemy from closing. 
At 11 P. M., the Pomona 38 got on the weather bow of the 
American ship, and poured in a broadside ; and as the Tenedos, 
of the same force, was fast closing on the quarter, and the 
Majestic was within gun-shot astern, further resistance was 
useless. Commodore Decatur had ordered his people below, 
when he saw the two last frigates closing, but finding that his 
signal of submission was not at first understood, the Pomona 
continuing to fire, an order had been given for them to return 
to their guns, just as the enemy ceased. The Majestic coming 
up before the removal of Commodore Decatur, that gentleman 
delivered his sword to her captain, who was the senior English 
officer present. 

In this long and close cannonade, agreeably to the official 
reports, the President lost 24 men killed, and 56 wounded. 
She was a good deal injured in her hull, and most of her im- 
portant spars were badly damaged. By one of those chances 
which decide the fortunes of men, among the slain were the 
first, fourth, and fifth lieutenants. 

The Endymion had 11 killed, and 14 wounded, according 
to the published reports. As it is known that an order was 
given to aim at the rigging and spars of this ship, with a view 
to cripple her, it is probable this statement was accurate. It is 
believed, however, on respectable authority, that a great many 
shot hulled the Endymion, which did not penetrate ; a fact 
which, coupled with other observations made during the day, 
has induced the distrust of the quality of the President's powder. 
Owing to one, or to both, the circumstances named, the Eng- 
lish ship lost but about a third as many men as the American, 
though a considerable number of the President's people were 
killed and wounded by the unresisted fire of the Pomona, hav- 
ing been ordered back to the guns before the latter ceased. 

The President was carried to Bermuda, and both she and 



1815] NAVAL HISTORY. 433 

the Endymion were dismasted in a gale, before reaching port. 
The latter also threw overboard her upper-deck guns. Com- 
modore Decatur was shortly after paroled, and he and all 
his surviving officers and men, were subsequently acquitted, 
with honour, for the loss of the ship. 

The commanders of the Peacock, Hornet, and Tom Bowline 
brig, ignorant of the capture of the President, followed her to 
sea, about the 22d, taking advantage of a strong northwester, 
to pass the bar by daylight. The enemy was seen lying-to at 
the southward and eastward, but was disregarded. A few days 
out the Hornet parted company in chase of a neutral, when all 
three vessels made the best of their way to the island of Tristan 
d'Acunha, the place of rendezvous appointed by Commodore 
Decatur. The Peacock and Tom Bowline arrived about the 
middle of March, but bad weather coming on, they were driven 
off the land. On the morning of the 23d of the same month, 
the Hornet came in, with the wind fresh at S. S. W., and was 
about to anchor, having let go her topsail-sheets to clew up, 
when the men aloft discovered a sail to windward. The 
stranger was standing to the westward, and was soon shut in 
by the land. Captain Biddle immediately sheeted home his 
topsails again, and made a stretch to windward and towards 
the chase, which was shortly after seen running down before 
the wind. There being little doubt as to the character of the 
stranger, the Hornet hove-to, waiting for him to come down, 
and when he had got near enough to render it prudent, the 
main-topsail was filled, and the ship was kept yawing, occa- 
sionally waring, both to allow him to close and to prevent his 
giving a raking fire. 

At 1 40 P. M., the stranger having got within musket-shot, 
came by the wind, set English colours and fired a gun. On 
this challenge, the Hornet luffed up, -showed her ensign, and 
returned a broadside. For 15 minutes both vessels kept up a 
sharp cannonade, that of the American ship, in particular, be- 
ing very animated and destructive, the enemy gradually drift- 
ing nearer, when the latter, finding it impossible to stand the 
Hornet's fire, put his helm up and ran down directly on the 
starboard broadside of the latter, to lay her aboard. The 
enemy's bowsprit came in between the main and mizzen rig- 
ging of the Hornet, affording a perfectly good opportunity to 
attempt effecting his purpose, but, though his first lieutenant 
made a gallant effort to lead on his men, the latter could not 
be induced to follow.. Captain Biddle had called away boarders 
37 



434 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

to repel boarders, and his people now manifested a strong wish 
to go into the English vessel, but perceiving his great advan- 
tage at the guns, that intrepid officer, who had been so free to 
adopt this expedient, when it was his duty to lead in his own 
person, judiciously refused his permission. 

The vessels lay in this position but a minute or two, the 
American raking, when the sea lifted the Hornet ahead, carry- 
ing away her mizzen rigging, davits, and spanker-boom, the 
enemy swinging round and hanging on the larboard quarter. 
At this moment, Captain Biddle sent the master forward to set 
the foresail, with a view to part the vessels, when an officer on 
board the English ship called out that she surrendered. The 
positions prevented any other firing than that of small-arms ; 
this was ordered to cease, and Captain Biddle sprang upon the 
taffrail to inquire if the enemy submitted. While putting this 
question, he was within thirty feet of the forecastle of the Eng- 
lish vessel, and two marines on board discharged their mus- 
kets at him. The ball of one just missed the chin and passing 
through the skin of the neck, inflicted a severe, but fortunately 
not a dangerous wound. This incident drew a discharge of 
muskets from the Hornet, which killed the two marines ; the 
American ship forged ahead at that instant, and the enemy 
lost his bowsprit and foremast as the vessels separated. 

The Hornet now wore round, bringing a fresh broadside to 
bear, and was about to throw in a raking fire, when twenty 
men appeared at the side and on the forecastle of the enemy, 
raising their hands for quarter, and eagerly calling out that 
they had struck. The excitement on board the American ship, 
however, was so great, in consequence of the manner in which 
their gallant captain had received his wound, that it was with 
the utmost difficulty Captain Biddle and his officers could pre- 
vent the people from pouring in another broadside. 

The prize was H. B. Majesty's brig the Penguin 18, mount- 
ing 19 carriage guns; viz., 16 thirty-two-pound carronades, 
two chase guns, and a shifting carronade on the topgallant 
forecastle. She was a vessel of the Hornet's class, size, and 
metal, and is represented as having had a spare port forward, 
by means of which she could fight ten guns in broadside.* Her 

* On an accurate computation of the real (not nominal) metal of the 
two vessels, the Hornet would appear to have thrown, at a broadside, about 
nine pounds more shot than the Penguin ; the latter not using her spare 
port. As respects the crews, the American ship had some ten or fifteen 
the most men at quarters. In tonnage the vessels were very nearly equal. 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 435 

complement of men was 132, of whom 12 had been put on 
board her for the express purpose of engaging a very heavy 
American privateer called the Young Wasp, a fact that is 
known by a letter found in her, from the Admiral at the Cape 
of Good Hope, to which station the Penguin belonged. Cap- 
tain Biddle stated the loss of his prize at 14 killed and 28 
wounded. As respects the latter, there could be no mistake, 
though it was the opinion of the officer in charge of the English 
vessel, that more men had been slain. Some time previously 
to this capture, the enemy had ceased to publish the official 
accounts of his nautical defeats, but a letter purporting to be 
the one written on this occasion, has found its way before the 
world, in which the English loss is stated at only 10 killed and 
28 wounded. The Penguin was completely riddled with the 
Hornet's shot, lost her foremast and bowsprit, and her main- 
mast was too much injured to be secured. Among her slain 
was her commander, Captain Dickenson, and the boatswain ; 
and among the wounded a lieutenant, two midshipmen, and the 
purser. 

The Hornet had but 1 man killed, and 10 wounded. Among 
the latter, in addition to Captain Biddle, was the first lieutenant, 
Mr. Conner,* a young officer of high promise, whose life was 
considered in great danger for some time. Not a round shot 
touched the Hornet's hull, nor did her spars receive any ma- 
terial injury, though she was a good deal cut up in her rigging 
and sails. 

The combat between the Hornet and the Penguin was one 
of the most creditable to the character of the American marine 
that occurred in the course of the war. The vessels were very 
fairly matched, and when it is remembered that an English 
flag-officer had sent the Penguin on especial service against a 
ship believed to be materially heavier than the vessel she ac- 
tually encountered, it is fair to presume she was thought to be, 
in every respect, an efficient cruiser. Yet, with the advantage 
of the wind, this ship was taken in 22 minutes, including the 
time lost while she hung on the Hornet's quarter, and while 
the latter was waring. The neatness and despatch with which 
the American sloop did her work, the coolness with which she 
met the attempt to board, and the accuracy of her fire and 
handling, are all proofs of her having been a disciplined man- 
of-war, and of the high condition of that service in which she 

* Now Captain Conner 



436 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

was one of the favourites. It is by such exploits that the 
character of a marine is most effectually proved. 

A few hours after the action, a strange and suspiciously look- 
ing sail heaving in sight, a cable was taken from the Penguin, 
and the Hornet towed her some distance off the land. After 
thoroughly examining the prize, and getting out of her all the 
stores and provisions that were wanted, before daylight, on the 
morning of the 25th, Captain Biddle scuttled her. The Hornet 
then stood in towards the island to look for the strange sail, 
which was found to be the Peacock, having the Tom Bowline 
in company. An arrangement was now made, by which the 
latter was converted into a cartel, and was sent into St. Salva- 
dor with the prisoners. 

As soon as he was released from this encumbrance, and 
from the great drain on his supplies, Captain Biddle was ready 
to continue his cruise. This spirited officer did not consider 
the capture of a vessel of the same class as his own, a reason 
of itself for returning to port ; but, it having been ascertained, 
by means of the Macedonian, a brig which sailed with the 
President, that the latter ship was probably captured, Captain 
Warrington determined to proceed on the original cruise, with 
the remaining vessels. They sailed, accordingly, on the 13th 
of April, having remained at the island the time directed in the 
instructions of Commodore Decatur. 

While making the best of their way towards the Indian seas, 
on the morning of the 27th of April, the two ships then being 
in lat. 38° 30' S., long. 33° E., the Peacock made the signal 
of a stranger to the southward and eastward. Both the sloops 
of war made sail in chase. Though the wind was light, before 
evening it was found that the stranger was materially nearer. It 
now fell calm, and the chase was in sight in the morning. The 
wind coming out at N. W., the ships ran down before it, with 
studding-sails on both sides, the stranger hauling up, appa- 
rently, to look at them. The Peacock was the fastest vessel, 
and being two leagues ahead at half past 2, P. M., she was ob- 
served to manifest some caution about approaching the stranger, 
when the Hornet took in her starboard light sails, and hauled 
up for her consort. It was now thought, on board the latter 
ship, that the stranger was a large Indiaman, and that the 
Peacock was merely waiting for the Hornet to come up, in 
order to attack her. But an hour later Captain Warrington 
made a signal that the vessel in sight was a line-of-battle ship, 
and an enemy. The Hornet immediately hauled close upon 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 437 

the wind, the stranger then on her lee quarter, distant not quite 
two leagues, the Peacock passing ahead and soon getting clear 
of him. 

It was now seen that the English ship sailed very fast, and 
was unusually weatherly. The Hornet being more particu- 
larly in danger, about 9 P. M., Captain Biddle felt it necessary 
to begin to lighten, his vessel being crowded with stores taken 
from the Penguin. Twelve tons of kentledge, a quantity of 
shot, some heavy spars, and the sheet-anchor and cable, were 
thrown overboard. By 2 A. M., the enemy had drawn for- 
ward of the lee-beam, when the Hornet tacked to the westward, 
the enemy immediately following. At daylight on the 29th, 
the English ship was on the lee quarter of the American, and 
within gun-shot. At 7 o'clock she had English colours set with 
a rear-admiral's flag flying, and she commenced firing. The 
shot passing over the Hornet, the launch was cut up and gotten 
rid of, the other anchors and cables, more shot, as many heavy 
articles as could be come at, and six of the guns were also 
thrown overboard. By 9 o'clock, the enemy had dropped so 
far astern that he ceased firing, the concussion produced by 
his guns having deadened the wind. 

By 11 A. M., however, it was found that the enemy was 
again closing, when the Hornet threw overboard all the re- 
maining guns but one, the boats, most of her shot, all the 
spare spars, and as many other articles off deck and from be- 
low, as could be got at. She also cut up her topgallant fore- 
castle, and threw the pieces into the ocean. At meridian, the 
enemy had got within a mile, and he began again to fire, his 
shot flying far beyond the ship. Fortunately but three struck 
her. One passed through her jib, another plunged on her 
deck, glancing and lodging forward, and a third also hulled 
her. Still Captain Biddle held on, determined not to give up 
his ship while there was a ray of hope, for it was seen that 
the enemy was dropped while firing. About 2 P. M. the 
breeze freshened, and got more to the westward. Previously 
to this, the wind, by backing to the southeast, had greatly 
favoured the chase, but it now brought the Hornet more to 
windward, and she began to get brisk way on her. At sunset 
the stranger was more than a league astern, and the ship was 
running nine knots throughout the night, the wind blowing in 
squalls. The enemy was seen at intervals, carrying sail in 
chase, but at daylight he was nearly hull down astern. At 
half-past 9 A. M., he took in his studding-sails, reefed his top- 
37* 



438 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

sails and hauled off to the eastward ; and two hours later, his 
upper sails had dipped. The Hornet had now no anchor, 
cable, nor boat, and but one gun, and she made the best of her 
way to St. Salvador, for the relief of the wounded. Here 
Captain Biddle heard of the peace, when he sailed for New 
York, which port he reached on the 30th of July. 

The vessel that chased the Hornet was the Cornwallis 74, 
bearing the flag of an officer proceeding to the East Indies. 

The Peacock continued her cruise, and on the 30th of June, 
in the Straits of Sunda, she fell in with the East India Com- 
pany's cruiser, Nautilus 14, Captain Boyce. In consequence 
of Captain Warrington's having no knowledge of the peace, 
broadsides were exchanged, when the Nautilus struck. This 
unfortunate mistake occurred a few days after the period set 
for the termination of hostilities, and having ascertained that a 
treaty of peace had been ratified in March, Captain Warring- 
ton gave up the Nautilus the next day. The latter vessel had 
6 killed and 8 wounded, but no person was hurt on board the 
Peacock, which ship immediately returned home. 

The combat between the Hornet and Penguin was the last 
regular action of the war, and the rencontre between the Pea- 
cock and Nautilus, the last instance of hostilities between the 
belligerents. When the Peacock got in, every cruiser that 
had been out against the English had returned to port. 

The burning of the frigate Columbia, at Washington, and 
the blockade of the Java in the Chesapeake, had induced the 
government, in the autumn of 1814, to purchase or build two 
squadrons of small vessels, one of which was to be commanded 
by Captain Porter, and the other by Captain Perry. The 
former succeeded in buying five brigantines, or schooners, and 
he was about to sail with them, when the news of peace reached 
the country. The vessels, which formed one of these flying 
squadrons, were the Firefly, Spark, Torch, Spitfire, and Flam- 
beau. The first destination of this force was the West Indies, 
and it was understood that it was to sail with orders to burn, 
sink, and destroy, without attempting, except in very extra- 
ordinary cases, to get any thing in. 

Captain Perry was less successful in finding suitable vessels, 
and three stout brigs, called the Boxer, Saranac, and Chippewa, 
were laid down, though built with green timber. Another, 
called the Escape, was purchased and named the Prometheus ; 
but it would seem that a fifth vessel had not been found when 
peace was proclaimed. 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 439 

Thus terminated the war of 1812, so far as it was connected 
with the American marine. The navy came out of this strug- 
gle with a vast increase of reputation. The brilliant style in 
which the ships had been carried into action, the steadiness 
and rapidity with which they had been handled, and the fatal 
accuracy of their fire, on nearly every occasion, produced a 
new era in naval warfare. Most of the frigate actions had been 
as soon decided as circumstances would at all allow, and in 
no instance was it found necessary to keep up the fire of a 
sloop of war an hour, when singly engaged. Most of the 
combats of the latter, indeed, were decided in about half that 
time. The execution done in these short conflicts was often 
equal to that made by the largest vessels of Europe, in general 
actions ; and in some of them, the slain and wounded comprised 
a very large proportion of the crews. 

It is not easy to say in which nation this unlooked-for result 
created the most surprise ; America or England. In the first 
it produced a confidence in itself that had been greatly wanted, 
but which, in the end, perhaps, degenerated to a feeling of self- 
esteem and security that was not without danger, or entirely with- 
out exaggeration. The last was induced to alter its mode of 
rating, adopting one by no means as free from the imputation of a 
want of consistency as that which it abandoned, and it altogether 
changed its estimate of the force of single ships, as well as of the 
armaments of frigates. The ablest and bravest captains of the 
English fleet were ready to admit that a new power was about 
to appear on the ocean, and that it was not improbable the battle 
for the mastery of the seas would have to be fought over again. 
In short, while some of the ignorant, presuming, and boastful 
were disposed to find excuses for the unexpected nautical re- 
verses which Great Britain had met with in this short war, the 
sagacious and reflecting saw in them matter for serious appre- 
hension and alarm. They knew that the former triumphs of 
their admirals had not so much grown out of an unusual ability 
to manoeuvre fleets, as in the national aptitude to manage sin- 
gle ships ; and they saw the proofs of the same aptitude, in the 
conduct of the Americans during this struggle, improved on 
by a skill in gunnery, that had never before been so uniformly 
manifested in naval warfare. In a word, it may be questioned 
if all the great victories of the last European conflicts caused 
more exultation among the uninstructed of that nation, than 
the defeats of this gave rise to misgivings and apprehensions 
among those who were able to appreciate causes and to antici- 



440 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

pate consequences in a matter so purely professional as the 
construction, powers, and handling of ships. Many false 
modes of accounting for the novel character that had been 
given to naval battles was resorted to. Among other reasons, 
it was affirmed that the American vessels of war sailed with 
crews of picked seamen. It is not known that a single vessel 
left the country, the case of the Constitution on her two last 
cruises excepted, with a crew that could be deemed extraordi- 
nary. No American man-of-war ever sailed with a comple- 
ment composed of nothing but able seamen ; and some of the 
hardest fought battles that occurred during this war, were 
fought by ships' companies that were materially worse than 
common. The people of the vessels on Lake Champlain, in 
particular, were of a quality much inferior to those usually 
found in ships of war. Neither were the officers, in general, 
old or very experienced. The navy itself had existed but 
fourteen years, when the war commenced ; and some of the 
commanders began their professional careers, several years 
after the first appointments had been made. Perhaps one half 
of the lieutenants, in the service at the peace of 1815, had gone 
on board ship, for the first time, within six years from the 
declaration of the war, and very many of them within three 
or four. So far from the midshipmen having been masters 
and mates of merchantmen, as was reported at the time, they 
were generally youths that first quitted the ease and comforts 
of the paternal home, when they appeared on the quarter-deck 
of a man-of-war. 

That the tone and discipline of the service were high, is 
true ; but it must be ascribed to moral, and not to physical 
causes ; to that aptitude in the American character for the sea, 
which has been so constantly manifested from the day the first 
pinnace sailed along the coast on the trading voyages of the 
seventeenth century, down to the present moment. 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 441 



CHAPTER L. 

Agreeably to the policy of the Barbary powers, the Dey of" 
Algiers no sooner found the republican cruisers excluded from 
the Mediterranean, by the English war, than he began to com- 
mit his depredations on the little American commerce that re- 
mained in or near that sea. During the late conflict, there 
was little leisure, and no great motive, to attend to this new 
enemy, but peace was no sooner made with England, than 
Congress, on the 2d of March, 1815, passed an Act authoriz- 
ing hostilities against Algiers. This was at a moment when 
extensive preparations had been making to continue the more 
serious contest, and, as several thousand mariners were at once 
withdrawn from the lakes, the government was enabled to 
strike an early and important blow at its new enemy. Crews 
were thrown into the Guerriere, Macedonian and Congress 
frigates, the light squadrons mentioned in the last chapter fur- 
nished several efficient vessels for such service, and various 
sloops were already prepared to go to sea. A force consisting 
of the Guerriere 44, Capt. Lewis ; the Constellation 38, Capt. 
Gordon; the Macedonian 38, Capt. Jones; the Ontario 18, 
Capt. Elliott; Epervier 18, Capt. Downes ; Firefly 12, Lt. 
Com. Rodgers; Spark 12, Lt. Com. Gamble; Flambeau 12, 
Lt. Com. Nicolson ; Torch 12, Lt. Com. Chauncey, and Spit- 
fire 12, Lt. Com. Dallas, assembled in the port of New York 
in the course of the spring. May the 21st, this squadron sailed 
for the Mediterranean, under the orders of Commodore Decatur, 
whose pennant was flying in the Guerriere. 

The Torch, Spitfire and Firefly separated in a gale, on the 
26th of May, the Firefly being obliged to return in conse- 
quence of springing her masts. The Ontario also lost the 
squadron on the 31st. Commodore Decatur reached Tangiers 
on the 15th of June, and had some communications with the 
consul. From this gentleman he learned that the Algerine 
Admiral Hammida, had been off the port the previous day, in 
a frigate, and that he had sailed again on his way to Cartha- 
gena, in company with a heavy brig. The squadron entered 
the Straits immediately, called the Ontario, Spitfire and Torch 
out of Gibraltar by signal, in passing, and shaped its course 



442 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

for Cape de Gatt. On the 17th of June, it fell in with the 
Algerine frigate Mishouri 46, Rais Hammida, when the Con- 
stellation, Capt. Gordon, the leading vessel, succeeded in bring- 
ing her to action. In a few minutes the Guerriere, Capt. Lewis, 
bearing the 'Commodore's pennant, passed between the two 
vessels, and poured in a broadside. Unfortunately one of the 
twenty -fours burst, at this discharge, blew up the spar deck, and 
killed and wounded from 30 to 45 men. The effect of her 
broadside, notwithstanding, was to drive the enemy from his 
guns, a few musketmen alone continuing the action on the 
part of the Algerines. The Ontario pressing the Mishouri on 
her quarter, the Macedonian coming up on her beam, and the 
small vessels closing also, there was no possibility of escape, 
and the enemy struck. The Algerine Admiral was among the 
slain. 

Com. Decatur reported this affair as a running fight of 25 
minutes, in which the enemy had 30 men killed, besides a 
great many wounded. The prisoners amounted to 406. No 
vessel sustained any loss but the Guerriere, on board of which 
ship 4 men were wounded by musket- balls, in addition to those 
who suffered by the explosion. 

Two days later, or on the 19th of June, the squadron chased 
an enemy's brig of 22 guns, and 180 men, into shoal water, 
off Cape Palos. The Epervicr, Spark, Torch and Spitfire 
were ordered in to destroy her, and they compelled her to 
strike after a short resistance. No less than 23 dead were 
found on board this vessel, and 80 prisoners were received from 
her, though many of her people escaped to the shore. It was 
thought that many of those who had left the prize, perished by 
the fire of the assailants, and it was known that one boat was 
sunk. No injury was sustained by the Americans, nor was 
either of the vessels injured. The brig was called the Estedio. 

Commodore Decatur sent his prizes into Carthagena, and 
proceeded to Algiers with most of his vessels, where he arrived 
on the 28th. Here the Dey was offered the choice of war or 
peace, and he wisely accepted the latter. A treaty was con- 
cluded June 30th, or just 40 days after the American squadron 
left New York. This treaty is memorable from the circum- 
stance that it was made on the terms of reciprocity acknow- 
ledged among civilised nations. By this treaty, tribute was 
for ever abolished, as between the United States and Algiers : 
there was a mutual delivery of prisoners ; a restitution of pro- 
perty taken from American citizens was made; nor were 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 443 

slaves to be made, in the event of any future war. Tn other 
respects, this arrangement was acceptable to the republic and 
humiliating to the regency. 

There can be no doubt that the Dey was induced to sign 
this treaty thus promptly, on account of the critical condition 
of the remainder of his fleet ; portions of which were expected 
hourly off the place. An attempt had been made to procure 
a suspension of hostilities, pending the negotiation ; but to this 
proposition, the American commissioners, Com. Decatur and 
Mr. William Shaler, absolutely declined acceding. A sloop 
of war did actually heave in sight before the treaty was receiv- 
ed, signed by the Dey ; and had she appeared an hour sooner, 
she would have been captured. The Dey asked, as a personal 
favour, to have the frigate and brig restored, and to this the 
Commissioners consented, though they refused to allow an arti- 
cle to that effect to be inserted in the treaty. 

After dictating terms to the Dey of Algiers, in the manner 
mentioned, Commodore Decatur transferred Captain Downcs 
of the Epervier to his own ship, gave the command of the 
former to the Guerriere's first lieutenant, Mr. John Templar 
Shubrick, and ordered the latter home with the treaty. The 
Epervier left the squadron a few days after the prisoners were 
released, and passed the Straits about the 10th of July. It is 
said that she was seen early in August, and that a tremendous 
gale succeeded on the following day ; but nothing certain is 
known of her fate. Twenty-six years have elapsed, and no 
occurrence has transpired to throw any light on the nature 
of the disaster. Like the Saratoga, PInsurgente, the Pickering, 
the Wasp, and gun-boat No. 7, this unfortunate vessel has dis- 
appeared, leaving behind her no traces of the manner in which 
she was lost.* 



* There were several passengers on board the Epervier, some of whom 
had been prisoners in Algiers. Among others were Captain Lewis, late 
of the Guerriere, and Mr. Benedict J. Neale, late first lieutenant of the 
Constellation. These gentlemen had married sisters, a short time before 
the squadron left home, and having seen the war at an end, were return- 
ing to their brides, with the feelings of men who had the consciousness 
of having temporarily sacrificed the best affections to duty. Of course 
they were lost in the vessel. 

Mr. John Templar Shubrick was a son of Col. Richard Shubrick of 
South Carolina, who had served with credit in the war of the revolution, 
and was allied by blood to the Draytons, Hamiltons, Haynes', and other 
patriotic and distinguished families of that State. Mr. Shubrick had 
been singularly fortunate in seeing service. He was on board the Con- 



444 NAVAL HISTORY. [1815. 

Peace was no sooner signed with Algiers, than Commodore 
Decatur proceeded first to Tunis and then to Tripoli, with 
reclamations on those governments, for injuries done American 
commerce, during the late English war. In both instances 
redress was obtained in the promptest manner. Commodore 
Decatur says, in one of his official letters, in reference to these 
demands, — " During the progress of our negotiations with the 
States of Barbary, now brought to a conclusion, there has ap- 
peared a disposition, on the part of each of them, to grant as 
far as we were disposed to demand." No better illustration 
can be given of the change that had been effected by the ser- 
vices of the Navy, within twelve or fifteen years, than is to be 
found in this simple but memorable declaration. The facts 
fully warranted it; and from the summer of 1815, dates the 
fall of a system of piratical depredations that had rendered the 
high seas in that quarter of the world insecure for several cen- 
turies, and which existed a disgrace to European civilization. 

As the prompt submission of the Dey of Algiers could not 
be foreseen, vessels were constantly quitting the United States 
for the Mediterranean, as they got ready, in order to reinforce 
the squadron, in anticipation of an attack upon the town. 
Among others, the Independence 74 sailed, under the orders 
of Commodore Bainbridge, who was to assume the chief com- 
mand, on arriving out. This was the first two-decked ship 
that ever went to sea under the American flag. She arrived 
too late for active service ; but collecting several ships, Com- 



stitution in her actions with the Guerriere and Java. He was then trans- 
ferred to the Hornet, and acted as her first lieutenant when she took the 
Peacock. He sailed in the President, Commodore Decatur, as her second 
lieutenant, but became first in the action, Mr. Babbit having been killed 
at the first broadside of the Endymion. He then went to the Guerriere, 
as first, and was near being destroyed by the bursting of the gun, in the 
action with the Algerine, a large piece of the metal actually hitting his 
hat. After all his escapes, Mr. Shubrick perished in the manner men- 
tioned. He was an officer of not only high promise, but of high per- 
formance, his conduct on every occasion eliciting praise from his supe- 
riors. He had not long been married when he was lost, leaving an only 
son. Four brothers of this family have served in the navy with reputa- 
tion. The second in years, is Commodore Wm. Branford Shubrick, late 
of the West-India squadron, and now commanding at Norfolk; Captain 
Edward Shubrick is the third ; and Commander Irvine Shubrick is the 
youngest. The son of Mr. John Templar Shubrick, is also a lieutenant 
in the navy. 

On board the Epervier also perished Lieutenant Yarnall, who had been 
first in the Lawrence, in her bloody conflict on Lake Erie. 



1815.] NAVAL HISTORY. 445 

modore Bainbridge made a great impression on the different 
Barbary powers, by showing this fresh force off their ports, 
just after Commodere Decatur had left them. In this manner 
a squadron was soon assembled, that greatly exceeded in 
numbers and guns, any force that the republic had then 
sent to sea. It is believed that the following vessels ap- 
peared in the Mediterranean at, or quite near, the same time, 
viz : — 

Independence ... 74 .... Com. Bainbridge. 

Guerriere 44 ... . Capt. Downes, Com. Decatur. 

United States ... 44 ... . Capt. Shaw. 
Constellation ... 38 .... Capt. Gordon. 

Congress 38 .... Capt. Morris. 

Macedonian .... 38 .... Capt. Jones. 

Ontario ' . . 18 Capt. Elliott. 

Erie 18 Capt. Ridgely. 

Epervier 18 .... Lt. Com. Shubrick. 

Boxer 16 .... Lt. Com. Porter. 

Saranac 16 .... Lt. Com. Elton. 

Chippewa 16 .... Lt. Com. Reid. 

Spark 12 .... Lt. Com. Gamble. 

Enterprise 12 .... Lt. Com. Kearny. 

Firefly 12 Lt. Com. Rodgers. 

Spitfire 12 .... Lt. Com. Dallas. 

Torch 12 .... Lt. Com. Chauncey. 

Flambeau 12 .... Lt. Com. Nicolson. 

Lynx 12 .... Lt. Com. Storer. 

The Java 44, Captain Perry, appeared a little later. Com- 
modore Decatur returned home with the Guerriere and one or 
two other vessels, as soon as the service was completed ; and 
Commodore Bainbridge arrived at Newport in November, with 
thirteen vessels of the squadron, viz : one ship of the line, two 
frigates, seven brigs, and three schooners. This is the largest 
American force that ever crossed the Atlantic in company. 

Commodore Shaw was left in command, in the Mediterra- 
nean, with the United States 44, Constellation 38, Ontario 18, 
and Erie 18. The Java 44, joined him shortly after. 

Thus terminated, the last Barbary war, the impression left 
by which promises to be lasting, and which may be said, in- 
deed, to have changed the policy of Europe, as regards those 
States, which had so long existed as nuisances to all legal 
38 



446 NAVAL HISTORY. [1841. 

navigation, and exceptions to the laws that regulated inter- 
course between civilized nations. 

The misunderstanding in the Mediterranean being arranged, 
the country had no longer any pressing service for its marine. 
Nevertheless, it now offered the singular spectacle of a country 
increasing its naval armaments, in a time of profound peace. 
The views of the government would seem to have enlarged 
with the late events, and the necessity of keeping afloat a force 
sufficient to protect a navigation that extended to the remotest 
corners of the earth, was now generally admitted. The foreign 
stations were no longer limited to the Mediterranean, but ships 
from this time forward were periodically sent to the Pacific 
and the coast of Brazil. Not long after, the East and West 
Indies, and the coast of Africa attracted notice ; and for many 
years, squadrons have been employed in the Mediterranean, 
on the coast of Brazil, in the West Indies, and in the East 
Indies, the latter, however, regularly proceeding round the 
world, touching at all such points as the public interests have 
required. It is worthy of remark that all the active cruisers 
have been employed on this foreign service, leaving the home 
coast, with few and transient exceptions, quite without protec- 
tion. A recent law (1841) has remedied this signal defect in 
the nautical policy of the country, and henceforth, it is to be 
hoped, the nation will possess an active home squadron. 

Attention was paid, soon after the peace of 1815, to the 
regular increase of the navy, and a great improvement has been 
made in the construction of dry docks. The following two- 
decked ships have been put into the water, and all of them 
have been used on foreign stations, viz : 

Independence 74 

Washington 74 

Franklin 74 

Columbus 80 

North Carolina 80 

Delaware 80 

Ohio 80 

Most of these ships have been found to be good vessels of 
their class, and two or three of them quite superior to ordinary 
ships of the line. They have never been tried in squadron, 
an experiment that is necessary to a just appreciation of their 
respective qualities. It remains yet to assemble the first 
American fleet. A strong force of this character is indispen- 



J °f 15194& 



1841.] NAVAL HISTORY. 447 

sable to forming a perfect and efficient marine, since in war 
great results can only be obtained by an exhibition of great 
power. 

One three-decker, the Pennsylvania 120, has been launched. 
Several ships of the line and frigates are also on the stocks. 

The navy has also been increased, within the last twenty- 
five years, by the addition of many heavy frigates and sloops 
of war : although still far from having reached the point 
necessary to a complete defence of the nation, it is probably, 
to-day, a hundred-fold stronger than it was at the declaration 
of war in 1812. Timber and other materials have been col- 
lected in considerable quantities, for the construction of new 
ships on an emergency ; and there is little doubt that another 
contest would develope the nautical resources of the nation to 
an extent never anticipated by the last generation. 

As the ships of the navy are constantly changing, a list 
would be of little permanent use. The officers form the essen- 
tial feature of the service, and of these there are now, between — 
60 and 70 Captains, 
90 and 100 Commanders, 
350 and 400 Lieutenants, &c. &c. 

Unfortunately, Congress has not yet established any higher 
grade than that first named, thereby neglecting the calls of 
justice, and the lofty considerations which are inseparable from 
the incentives connected with professional rank, as well as one 
of the most certain means of maintaining discipline. All mili- 
tary experience shows that rank and authority are correla- 
tives ; and all nautical practice has gone to prove that fleets 
are never thoroughly efficient, until animated and controlled 
by the feeling connected with a perfect submission to orders. 

There is no longer any question concerning the expediency 
of the republic's maintaining a powerful marine. Experience 
has shown there is no security without one, and the gallant 
service, whose exploits have here been recorded, has got to be 
so necessary to, and so general a favourite with, the nation, 
that it scarcely exceeds the bounds of truth to say that their 
existence is inseparable. 

THE END. 










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